Corticosteroid-Based Treatments: Uses and Side Effects

Corticosteroid-based treatments are medications that contain corticosteroids, which are powerful anti-inflammatory drugs. They are commonly used to manage various inflammatory conditions and autoimmune disorders.
Category
Drug
Where to get
Available by prescription from healthcare providers and pharmacies.
Prepared by Nick Harper, reviewed by Dr. David James Simpson

corticosteroid-based treatments FAQ


Image credit: aafp.org

What are topical corticosteroids?

Topical corticosteroids are a type of steroid medicine applied directly to the skin to reduce inflammation and irritation. Topical corticosteroids are available in several different forms, including:

What are corticosteroids used for?

Corticosteroids, often known as steroids, are an anti-inflammatory medicine. They’re prescribed for a wide range of conditions. They’re a synthetic version of hormones, normally produced by the adrenal glands (2 small glands that sit on top of the kidneys). Corticosteroids are mainly used to reduce inflammation and suppress the immune system.

What are the different types of corticosteroid?

Types of corticosteroid include prednisone and cortisone. Corticosteroids are different than the performance-enhancing drugs that some athletes and bodybuilders use. Those are anabolic steroids. In this article, we take a look at the types of corticosteroids and their uses.

What are systemic corticosteroids?

You may have heard the term ‘systemic’ corticosteroids. This is another way of describing corticosteroids given orally (by mouth) or by injection into a vein or muscle. Topical corticosteroids just affect the area of your body where they’re applied. But systemic corticosteroids reach all parts of your body.

How are corticosteroids administered?

The route of administration for corticosteroids depends on many factors, primarily being the disorder treated. The route can be parenteral, oral, inhaled, topical, injected (intramuscular, intraarticular, intralesional, intradermal, etc.), and rectal.

corticosteroid-based treatments References

If you want to know more about corticosteroid-based treatments, consider exploring links below:

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