What are some important considerations when your steroids’ dosage changes?

What are some important considerations when your steroids’ dosage changes?

As the control of your disease improves, or if serious side effects develop, your healthcare provider may decrease your steroid dose by tapering the dose to prevent “breakthrough” symptoms and to allow the adrenal glands time to function again. If you have been taking steroids long-term do not stop your steroids abruptly. Follow your healthcare provider’s recommendations.

As your body adjusts to a lower steroid dose, you may notice some withdrawal side effects. These may include an increase in breathing difficulty due to worsening of your disease, fatigue, weakness, depression and muscle and joint pain. If breathing difficulty occurs, or if any of the above symptoms are severe, notify your healthcare provider. The non-respiratory side effects usually disappear within a few weeks or months.

If your steroid dose has recently been decreased or stopped and you have a serious illness, surgery or injury, you may require a short steroid burst. During this time, your adrenal glands may not be functioning at full capacity and cannot handle stress to the body. This is important if you have taken routine steroid pills within the last year or completed a burst within the past two weeks. Inform all of your healthcare providers that you have been on steroid treatment.

Some people do not react normally to steroid medicine. Special testing may be required and the medicine dose may need to be adjusted.

Frequently people have concerns about taking corticosteroid (“steroid”) medicine. Please discuss concerns that you have about steroid use with your healthcare provider. Discuss all medicines and herbal supplements with your healthcare provider to make sure they don’t interact with the steroids you take. It is important to follow your healthcare provider’s directions when taking steroids.