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Basics

• Summary
• Start Here

Learn More

• Related Issues
• Specifics

See, Play and Learn

• Images

Research

• Clinical Trials
• Journal Articles

Resources

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For You

• Children
• Women
• Patient Handouts

Summary

You may have heard of anabolic steroids, which can have harmful effects. But there's another type of steroid - sometimes called a corticosteroid - that treats a variety of problems. These steroids are similar to hormones that your adrenal glands make to fight stress associated with illnesses and injuries. They reduce inflammation and affect the immune system.

You may need to take corticosteroids to treat:

• Arthritis
• Asthma
• Autoimmune diseases such as lupus and multiple sclerosis
• Skin conditions such as eczema and rashes
• Some kinds of cancer

Steroids are strong medicines, and they can have side effects, including weakened bones and cataracts. Because of this, you usually take them for as short a time as possible.

Start Here

• FAQs About Steroids for Asthma (National Jewish Health)
• Prednisone and Other Corticosteroids: Balance the Risks and Benefits (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish

Related Issues

• Glucocorticoid-Induced Osteoporosis (American College of Rheumatology) Also in Spanish
• How to Stop Steroid Medicines Safely (American Academy of Family Physicians) Also in Spanish

Specifics

• Corticosteroids (Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America)
• Cortisone Shots (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
• Epidural Steroid Injections (North American Spine Society)
• FAQs about Oral Steroids (Steroid Pills and Syrups) for Asthma (National Jewish Health)
• FAQs on Inhaled Steroids for Asthma (National Jewish Health)
• Steroids for Treating Cancer (For Parents) (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish

Images

• Prednisone (Johns Hopkins Vasculitis Center)

Clinical Trials

• ClinicalTrials.gov: Adrenal Cortex Hormones (National Institutes of Health)
• ClinicalTrials.gov: Glucocorticoids (National Institutes of Health)
• ClinicalTrials.gov: Prednisone (National Institutes of Health)

Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

• Article: Combination of rituximab and low-dose glucocorticoids for idiopathic refractory nephrotic syndrome...
• Article: Adipocyte associated glucocorticoid signaling regulates normal fibroblast function which is lost...
• Article: Prediction model of male reproductive function damage caused by CHOP chemotherapy...
• Steroids -- see more articles

Children

• Corticosteroids (American Academy of Pediatrics) Also in Spanish

Women

• Inhaled Corticosteroids (ICSs) and Pregnancy (Organization of Teratology Information Specialists) Also in Spanish

Patient Handouts

• Steroid injections - tendon, bursa, joint (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish