Corticosteroids are substances belonging to the subclass of steroid hormones. Moreover, they are not produced by the sex glands, but exclusively by the adrenal cortex; that is why they do not have estrogenic, androgenic or progestogenic activity. Corticosteroid hormones are completely natural substances for the body that perform biochemical processes, regulate life mechanisms, support the immune system, take part in carbohydrate, water-s alt and protein metabolism. Details about preparations containing these hormones, about what they are and why they are needed, will be discussed in our article.
Indications for the use of drugs that contain this type of hormones
The corticosteroid drug, which is most often called simply a steroid, is administered artificially, but it plays the same role as the so-called natural hormone: it provides metabolic processes, restoresconnective tissue, converts starch into sugar, fights various kinds of inflammation. Such drugs are often used in the treatment of diseases such as asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus erythematosus, kidney and thyroid dysfunction, tendinitis. Corticosteroid creams and ointments are often used in transplantation because they protect the body from rejection of transplanted organs.
Contraindications to the use of drugs that contain corticosteroid hormones
Side effects when using corticosteroid drugs can be pronounced headaches, pain in the legs or back, dizziness, degeneration of tissues in constant contact with the drug. The corticosteroid drug may be either a glucocorticoid or a mineralocorticoid. It is produced in the form of tablets, powders, ointments, sprays, drops, gels, capsules. Such drugs are very effective for the treatment of various diseases, for example, corticosteroid ointments for phimosis in men are often prescribed as an alternative to surgery, they are also used to treat children (boys). True, such therapy can last quite a long time, sometimes up to 2-3 months. In this case, the ointment is usually applied 2 times a day.
Types of corticosteroid drugs
So, what are the names of corticosteroid drugs? The list of them is quite extensive, below are just a few of them. For starters, tablets and capsules:
- Celeston;
- “Kenalog”;
- “Metipred”;
- “Kenakort”;
- “Polcortolon”;
- Medrol;
- “Urbazon”;
- “Prednisolone”;
- “Corineff”;
- Florinef and others.
And here is a list including ointments, gels and corticosteroid creams:
- “Diprosalik”;
- “Dermozolon”;
- “Mesoderm”;
- “Kremgen”;
- “Elokom”;
- “Cutiveate”;
- “Betamethasone”;
- “Triderm”;
- “Flucinar”;
- “Triacutan”;
- “Hyoxysone”;
- “Sinoflan”;
- “Dermovate”;
- Delor and others.
It should also be noted that often a corticosteroid drug contains anti-inflammatory or antiseptic components, as well as antibiotics.
Other corticosteroids - nasal. Detailed list
Nasal preparations of corticosteroid hormones include such medicines that treat chronic rhinitis and purulent processes occurring in the nasopharynx. As a result of the use of such drugs, the ease of breathing through the nose is restored and the possibility of reproduction of microorganisms dangerous to human he alth living on the mucous membranes is reduced. These drugs include:
- “Flixonase”;
- “Nazarel”;
- “Nasobek”;
- “Nasonex”;
- “Rhinoclenil”;
- “Beclomethasone”;
- “Tafen Nasal”;
- “Aldecin”;
- Avamys and others.
It is important to note that suchthe form of drugs has much less negative effects and side effects on the body than injections or tablets.
Corticosteroid drugs for bronchial treatment: inhalation
In the treatment of various spastic conditions of the bronchi (mainly bronchial asthma), irreplaceable drugs in the form of inhalations are used, because this is the most convenient form of therapy for such diseases. It is carried out using the following drugs that contain corticosteroids:
- “Triamcinolone”;
- “Flunisolide”;
- “Budesonide”;
- “Fluticasone Propionate”;
- “Benacort”;
- “Klenil”;
- “Beklazon”;
- “Beclomethasone dipropionate”;
- “Beclospir”;
- “Budenitis”;
- “Pulmicort”;
- “Bekodisk”;
- “Depo-medrol”;
- Diprospan and some others.
This form of the drug involves the following options: emulsion, ready-made solution, powder, which must first be diluted and prepared as an inhaler filler. In this form, the corticosteroid drug does not penetrate into the blood and mucous membranes at all, resistance to a particular substance is avoided, which does not lead to serious consequences of its use. Simply put, addiction to the drug does not develop, or it occurs much later compared to if the patient used capsules or injections containing these hormones.
Effects of corticosteroid treatment
If the patient tookpreparations with the named hormones for less than three weeks, then there will be no significant disturbances in the body. If the use of drugs was carried out for a longer time or more often, then various complications are possible. Therefore, patients are required to have a special card and bracelets for the use of steroids. Side effects with prolonged use of steroids are nausea, anorexia, arthralgia, skin peeling, weight loss, dizziness, drowsiness. In general, these drugs are used in the treatment of many different diseases (asthma, psoriasis, polyarthritis, and many others), but due to the fact that they are dangerous with prolonged use and have the ability to start irreversible processes in the body, their use without the participation of a doctor is strongly discouraged. With long-term corticosteroid therapy, undesirable side effects may occur, especially in cases where the recommended dose is greatly exceeded. Therefore, taking into account all the risks, the doctor must carefully calculate how much and what kind of corticosteroid drug the patient needs, adequately assess all the risks from its use and conduct therapy without exceeding the average recommended duration of taking these hormones (several weeks).
