What are the side effects from taking steroids?
Side effects from steroids vary widely between patients, but are generally pretty severe particularly when used at moderate to high doses (> 15mg prednisone daily). Common side effects include rounding of the face (moon face) and increase in the size of fat pads on the upper back and back of the neck (buffalo hump), acne, increased appetite with consequent weight gain, increased body hair, osteoporosis (especially in women), compression fractures in vertebrae, diabetes, hypertension, cataracts, increased susceptibility to infections, glaucoma, weakness of arm, leg, shoulder, and pelvic muscles, personality changes including depression (suicidal tendencies are not uncommon), irritability, nervousness, and insomnia. Children’s growth may also be affected, even by small doses. An important and serious complication of steroid therapy is avascular necrosis of the hip. This results in death of the bone in the hip joint resulting in arthritis and severe pain. Fortunately, it is a rare complic
