Steroids for asthma

Some people who take steroid tablets or injected steroids long term, may find they put on weight and notice they develop a “moon-shaped” face. This is a symptom of a condition called Cushing’s syndrome, linked to taking high doses of steroids. If you are prescribed oral steroid tablets these will be a higher dose than the inhaled form.

If you get pregnant while you’re on steroids, don’t stop taking them before you’ve spoken to your doctor. Current guidelines say that some steroid tablets, including prednisolone, can be taken during pregnancy. They’re often used to treat flare-ups in women who are pregnant.

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It is used to help reduce the symptoms of asthma, such as wheeze. If your child has severe asthma, taking prednisolone regularly will help prevent asthma attacks and control symptoms such as wheezing. If your child has had an asthma attack, your doctor may suggest that they take a high dose of prednisolone for a few days, to help them recover. Prednisolone is usually used alongside other asthma treatments such as inhalers.

The information on this page is about steroids used in cancer treatment. If you have any of these conditions and you notice a change after taking oral steroids, tell your doctor. You should discuss the risks with your doctor if you have any concerns. If you have indigestion or other stomach problems after starting steroids, then alcohol is likely to add to the problem, so you may want to cut back on how much alcohol you drink.

What are steroids?

You can usually drink alcohol while taking steroid tablets, but don’t drink too much as this may irritate your stomach. They may also sometimes recommend other medicines to take alongside steroids to protect you from some of the side effects, such as medicines to help prevent indigestion or heartburn. Call or WhatsApp our Helpline for support with your condition. Get advice on your medicines, symptoms or travelling with a lung condition, or just call us to say hello.

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Amongst men, there can be a particular focus on muscle definition, and especially a type that can be hard to achieve through diet and exercise alone. It’s commonly accepted that girls and women face a lot of pressure to look a certain way. This can lead to low self-esteem and depression or excessive dieting, unhealthy eating habits and eating disorders. Problems with their body image can cause some women to have plastic or intimate surgery because they feel their bodies aren’t good enough.

You should have this card if you are dependant on daily steroid use. This means your body has problems making https://alumnisportsbar.com enough of a hormone called cortisol. Having this problem can affect your body’s ability to cope with stress.

Talk to your doctor or nurse about effective contraception before starting your cancer treatment. Let them know straight away if you or your partner falls pregnant while having treatment. Tell your doctor or nurse if you have headaches, nosebleeds, blurred or double vision or shortness of breath. They are a treatment for many different conditions and diseases.

Some other skin problems, such as rosacea, acne and ulcers, can be made worse by steroid creams so you might not be able to take them if you have any of these conditions. You might not be able to start steroids if you have an infection, or if you have any wounds on your body, as steroids might delay these getting better or cover up some of your symptoms. This page is about steroids that can be taken as tablets, liquids, creams and eye drops and ointments.

Side-effects and risks

Tell your doctor straightaway if you think you could have chicken pox or shingles. Myopathy is more common with higher-dose steroids taken over a long time. Tell your medical team if you experience side effects so that they can help you to manage them.

Prednisolone tablets and liquid

We know that it is common to struggle with your mental health when you have cancer or care for someone with cancer. In the UK, live vaccines include rubella, mumps, measles, BCG, yellow fever and the shingles vaccine (Zostavax). There is evidence that steroid drugs may come through into your breast milk. You can make a decision together based on the benefits to you and the possible risks to your baby.

General advice about antibiotics

If you need specific medical advice about your condition, your GP or IBD team will be best placed to help. We know it can be difficult to live with, or support someone living with these conditions. Pneumovax and yearly flu vaccines are safe and recommended, but avoid ‘live’ vaccines such as that used against yellow fever. It is safe to drink alcohol in moderation whilst on steroids, but it may aggravate indigestion and/or promote osteoporosis.