Cortisone is used to treat many different conditions such as allergic disorders, skin conditions, ulcerative colitis, arthritis, psoriasis and respiratory disorders.
What is the most important information I should know about cortisone?
You should not use this medication if you are allergic to cortisone, or if you have a fungal infection anywhere in your body.
Before taking cortisone, tell your doctor about all your medical conditions, as well as for all the other medicines you are using. There are many other diseases that can be affected by the use of steroids and many other drugs that can interact with steroids.
Every doctor that treats you must know that you take steroid drugs.
What should I discuss with my doctor before taking cortisone;
You should not use this medication if you are allergic to cortisone, or if you have a fungal infection anywhere in your body.
The steroid medication can weaken your immune system and make you vulnerable to infection. Steroids can also worsen an infection you already have, or reactivate it an infection that you have had recently. Before taking this medicine, tell your doctor about any illness or infection you have had within the last few weeks.
To make sure you can safely take cortisone, tell your doctor if you have any of the following:
Liver disease (such as cirrhosis of the liver)
Kidney disease
Thyroid disorder
Diabetes
Malaria
Tb
Osteoporosis
Muscle disorder (such as myasthenia gravis)
Glaucoma or cataract
Herpes in the eyes
Stomach ulcer, ulcerative colitis, or diverticulitis
Depression or other mental illness
Congestive heart failure
Hypertension
It is not known whether cortisone can damage a fetus in the womb of his mother. Let, however, your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while using this drug.
Cortisone can pass into breast milk and can potentially harm a newborn infant. You must not breast-feed while you are using cortisone.
The steroids can affect the growth of children. Talk to your doctor if you think your child is not growing at a normal rate while using cortisone.
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How should I get the cortisone?
Take it exactly the way you will define your doctor. Do not take in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than the recommended period. Follow always the instructions on the recipe of the doctor.
Your doctor may occasionally change your dosage to make sure that you have the best results.
This dosage can be changed, if you have done any surgery, if you are sick, if you have increased stress, or a fever or infection. Do not change the dose of medicines or schedule without your doctor’s advice. Tell your doctor about any illness or infection you have had within the past several weeks.
The cortisone can cause unusual results in some medical tests. Always update your doctor if you are taking cortisone.
Do not stop using cortisone suddenly, or you could have unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. Discuss with your doctor how to avoid withdrawal symptoms when stopping the medication.
Cortisone store at room temperature away from moisture, heat and light.
What happens if I miss a dose?
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember but skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose!
What will happen if I take overdose?
Seek medical attention or call the Poison control Center (tel 210 7793777).
The overdose of cortisone does not produce life-threatening your symptoms. However, long-term use of high steroid doses can lead to symptoms such as thinning skin, easy bruising, changes in the shape or location of body fat (especially on the face, neck, back, and waist), increased acne or hair growth on the face, menstrual problems, impotence, or loss of interest in sex.
What should I avoid while taking cortisone?
Avoid being near people who are sick or have infections. Call your doctor for preventive treatment if you are exposed to chicken pox or measles. These diseases can be serious, or even fatal, in people who are using a steroid.
Don’t do any “live†vaccine while using cortisone. The vaccine may not work as well during this period and may not fully protect you from (any) disease.
Live vaccines include those against measles, mumps, rubella, polio, rotavirus, smallpox, chicken pox, H1N1 influenza etc.
Avoid drinking alcohol while you are taking cortisone.
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Cortisone: Side Effects
Seek emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives, difficulty breathing and swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Call your doctor right away if you have any of these serious side effects:
Problems with your eyesight
Swelling, rapid weight gain, feeling of difficulty in breathing
Severe depression, unusual behavior
Blood in the stools, or coughing with blood
Pancreatitis (severe pain in your upper stomach spreading on your back, with nausea, vomiting, and rapid heart beat)
Low level of potassium (confusion, arrhythmia, excessive thirst, increased urination, muscle weakness)
Dangerously high blood pressure (severe headache, blurred vision, buzzing in your ears, anxiety, confusion, chest pain, shortness of breath, arrhythmia)
Less serious side effects may include:
Sleep problems, mood changes
Acne, dry skin, thinning skin, bruising or discoloration of skin
Delay in wound healing
Increased sweating
Headache, dizziness, vertigo
Nausea, stomach pain, bloating
Changes in the shape or location of body fat (especially in the hands, legs, face, neck, chest and waist)
Attention: This is not a complete list of all possible side effects. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.
A great deal of attention with the cortisone and steroids preparations! It can happen to you…
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