Everything You Need to Know About Corticosteroids

Steroids are abused in an attempt to enhance athletic performance and improve physical appearance and can be taken in pill form, injected, or rubbed on the skin in the form of gels or creams. Also, steroids increase your appetite and may result in weight gain. Steroids impact the health of your bones and muscles, too, which can be a problem if you’re on steroids for a long period of time. In addition, MD Anderson research has shown that steroids can help ease cancer-related fatigue, which is different from the tiredness you may feel after a long day. Typically, your energy level is much lower than it was previously, and you can't really pinpoint one cause.

Steroids (sometimes referred to as "roids" or "juice") are the same as, or similar to, certain hormones in the body. The body makes steroids naturally to support such functions as fighting stress and promoting growth and development. Microbial catabolism of phytosterol side chains yields C-19 steroids, C-22 steroids, and 17-ketosteroids (i.e. precursors to adrenocortical hormones and contraceptives).

Commonly referred to as steroids, corticosteroids are a type of anti-inflammatory drug. They are typically used to treat rheumatologic diseases, like rheumatoid arthritis, lupus or vasculitis . Specific corticosteroids include the medications cortisone and prednisone. But they may also relieve the inflammation, pain and discomfort of many different diseases and conditions. Talk with your doctor to help you better understand the risks and benefits of corticosteroids and make informed choices about your health. When prescribed in doses that exceed your body's usual levels, corticosteroids suppress inflammation.

Prednisone is best taken as a single dose in the morning, which is thought to reduce steroid-induced suppression of the pituitary-adrenal axis compared to evening dosing. Systemic steroids are best avoided in patients with psoriasis. INSIGHTS assessment, you’ll be among those changing lives today and changing the future of arthritis, for yourself and for 54 million others. Take part to be among those changing lives today and changing the future of arthritis.

"Stacking" means taking two or more different anabolic steroids. Other steroid users may "pyramid" their steroids, starting with a low dose and gradually increasing the dose, frequency, or number of anabolic steroids taken, then tapering off to complete a cycle. There is no scientific evidence to support any of these claims.

Rapid withdrawal of steroids may cause a syndrome that could include fatigue, joint pain, muscle stiffness, muscle tenderness, or fever. These symptoms could be hard to separate from those of your underlying disease. Even with slower withdrawal of steroids, some of these symptoms are possible, but usually in milder forms. Steroid use for over two weeks can decrease the ability of your body to respond to physical stress. A higher dose of steroid may be needed at times of major stress, such as surgery or very extensive dental work or serious infection. This could be needed for as long as a year after you have stopped steroids.

Though it may not be obvious, steroids are addictive, which means those who take them may continue to take them even when side effects become severe or use impacts their life in unwanted ways. Some believe that they are not addictive because they do not create a euphoric feeling commonly found in other drugs of abuse. • In the past, steroids were linked to birth defects, low birth weight and premature delivery.