Steroids

The body’s natural response to physical stress such as surgery is the excessive secretion of steroids. These extra steroids enable the body to withstand the pressure better. If the patient takes steroids continuously, the body will not release more steroids during physical stress. For this reason, additional steroids are needed before and after surgery. Usually, one day before the operation, more steroid is prescribed and it continues until one day after the operation. The amount of steroid used during this period varies from 30 to 125 mg, and is injected into a vein every six hours. Usually, the extra steroid is stopped one day after the surgery and it is back to normal. As is common with steroid use, the amount of drug used during surgery must be determined for each person separately.
 

1- Cataract

2- Osteoporosis

3- Facial obesity

4- Weight gain

5- local accumulation of fat (hump)

6- High blood pressure

7- Increase in blood sugar

8- Blood of local deaths

9- Transformation in children’s development

10- Muscle weakness

11- Skin changes, pimples, skin thinning

12- Hair growth (especially in the face of women)

13- Reducing the body’s resistance to infection

14- Failure to expel salt and fluids from the body

15- Mood change

16- Under pressure of natural steroid production

17- The risk of stomach ulcers (there is a difference of opinion in this matter)

Oral steroid may cause stomach irritation, so it is better to take it with food, so that food acts as a shield against stomach irritation. It is believed that oral steroids can also cause stomach ulcers.

However, there is a difference of opinion among doctors. If you think there is a possibility of stomach ulcer or gastrointestinal bleeding, it is better to mention this to your doctor.

These points include:

(a) Steroids should be taken at a certain time and in the prescribed amount,

(b) Steroid use should not be stopped without the doctor’s advice.

(c) all of the patient’s treating physicians, including his dentist, must know that he is taking steroids;

(d) It should be remembered that the amount of steroid used can be increased during physical crises.

If continuous use of oral steroid is required to control asthma, taking it optimally can reduce the risk of side effects.

The best way to use oral steroids is:

(a) Taking steroids early in the morning and preferably every other day

(b) the use of products such as prednisolone, or methylprednisolone, which are short-acting, are better than products such as oral or injectable dexamethasone or triamcinolone, which are long-acting

(c) taking minimal medication at long intervals, so as to control asthma symptoms.

The risk of decreased adrenal steroid secretion and steroid side effects in the short term (even if the dosage is high) is negligible. Oral steroids do not cause any danger in short-term and occasional use (even if the dosage is high).

Inhaled steroids, if taken in the correct amount, do not have many side effects. The main complication of inhaled steroids is thrush, which is a fungal yeast that forms a thin white film on the tongue and back of the throat. Rinsing the mouth after taking inhaled steroids, reducing the dosage, and using nystatin (mycostatin) mouthwash can prevent thrush.