What are the side effects of corticosteroids?
Corticosteroids have many side effects; some are disabling. Your doctor will discuss the effect of these drugs. Common side effects include excessive weight gain, acne, diabetes in susceptible people, high blood pressure, glaucoma, cataracts, thinning of the bone (osteoporosis) and psychological symptoms.
Dr. Kamhi: Weight gain is one of the most common side effects. Continuous (months to years) use of oral corticosteroids can cause abdominal stria (stretch marks), hypertension, moon faces, and osteoporosis. However, such serious side effects rarely occur in patients taking short-term doses of oral corticosteroids to treat lumbar or cervical pain. SpU: Tell us more about the spinal epidural injection. What is your experience? Dr. Kamhi: Spinal epidural injections to treat back and neck pain are a common nonoperative procedure. An epidural allows the physician to administer a more potent dose of corticosteroid medication by needle precisely to where it is needed. Longer acting corticosteroid preparations such as Depo-Medrol are safely used to treat low back pain. Celestone is a more soluble, less particulate corticosteroid medication used in cervical epidural injections. In my practice, I perform lumbar (lumbosacral) and cervical epidural corticosteroid injections in a sterile procedure
Side effects of corticosteroids vary based on the individual, the dosage, and the mothod of delivery (oral, topical, injection). Common side effects may include increased appetite, indegestion and nervousness or restlessness. Contact your local acne physician to discuss the potential benefits and side effects of corticosteroids.
