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• QWhat are the side effects of corticosteroid nasal sprays?

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  A Dr. Daniel R. Spogen, MD , Family Medicine, answered on behalf of Univ. of Nev. School of Medicine, Family Medicine

  The most common reported side effect of corticosteroid nasal sprays is headache. Less than 10 percent of people using corticosteroid nasal sprays may experience the following:

  • dizziness
  • nausea
  • vomiting
  • abdominal pain
  • diarrhea
  • nose bleeds
  • cough
  • sore throat
  • runny nose

  Less than 1 percent of people experience anaphylaxis, a serious adverse reaction which may involve throat swelling and/or low blood pressure.

  In general, corticosteroid nasal sprays are safe and well-tolerated by the majority of people using them. 

• QHow effective are corticosteroid nasal sprays?

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  A Dr. Daniel R. Spogen, MD , Family Medicine, answered on behalf of Univ. of Nev. School of Medicine, Family Medicine

  Corticosteroid nasal sprays are very effective in controlling allergy symptoms. Corticosteroid nasal sprays must be used every day and can take up to three weeks before the full effect of the steroid is felt. These medications are now available over the counter, but it's important to talk to a healthcare provider about using them.

• QWhat should I know before taking corticosteroids?

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  A Dr. Darria Gillespie, MD , Emergency Medicine, answered

  If you have diabetes, be aware that corticosteroids may decrease glucose tolerance and raise blood sugar.
  
  Corticosteroids can increase blood coagulation and cause blood clots, and may not be a good option for those with hypercoagulation disorders.
  
  Corticosteroids can cause or worsen psychiatric problems, including depression, euphoria, mood swings, and personality changes.
  
  If you have any of these conditions, a corticosteroid may not be a good option for you:

  • recent intestinal surgery
  • diverticulitis
  • peptic ulcer
  • tuberculosis or a positive TB screening test
  • heart failure or a recent heart attack
  • herpes infection of the eye
  • high blood pressure
  • hypothyroidism
  • impaired kidney function
  • impaired liver function
  • myasthenia gravis
  • osteoporosis

  
  Corticosteroids can worsen strongyloides infection.
  
  If you are pregnant, may be pregnant, or are planning a pregnancy, corticosteroids may not be right for you. The health of your baby may be at risk if you take a corticosteroid during the first trimester. It is not known whether corticosteroids are safe for pregnant women in later trimesters. 
  
  Corticosteroids can be passed into breast milk. They may not be good options if you are breastfeeding.
  
  If you take budesonide, you should avoid grapefruit juice.
  
  This answer was adapted from Sharecare's award-winning AskMD app. Start a consultation now to find out what's causing your symptoms, learn how to manage a condition, or find a doctor. 
• QHow are corticosteroids used to treat ulcerative colitis?

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  A Dr. Darria Gillespie, MD , Emergency Medicine, answered

  While aminosalicylates are usually the first choice, corticosteroid suppositories or enemas are often used for mild or moderate ulcerative colitis (UC) that affects the rectum or lower colon. For people who are not helped by these, or for people with more of the colon involved, oral corticosteroids are usually given. Corticosteroids are not used for maintaining remission in UC.
  
  The use of corticosteroids for children with UC is similar to their use for treating adults with UC. As with adults, corticosteroids are used as briefly as possible and are not used for maintaining remission.
  
  This answer was adapted from Sharecare's award-winning AskMD app. Start a consultation now to find out what's causing your symptoms, learn how to manage a condition, or find a doctor. 
• QHow do injectable corticosteroids for joints treat psoriatic arthritis?

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  A Dr. Darria Gillespie, MD , Emergency Medicine, answered

  Corticosteroid injections can help reduce symptoms of inflamed joints for people with psoriatic arthritis. They are an option for people who have a small number of inflamed joints. Injections are also sometimes given for an inflamed finger or toe (dactylitis) or tendon (enthesitis). But injections should not be given into a tendon in a weight-bearing joint, or through a psoriatic skin plaque.
  
  This answer was adapted from Sharecare's award-winning AskMD app. Start a consultation now to find out what's causing your symptoms, learn how to manage a condition, or find a doctor. 
• QHow effective are corticosteroid injections for treating carpal tunnel?

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  A Dr. Darria Gillespie, MD , Emergency Medicine, answered

  Research shows that corticosteroid injections provide short-term relief of carpal tunnel syndrome. Some experts recommend trying 2 or 3 injections before considering carpal tunnel release surgery, but people should not have more than 3 or 4 injections. About 50% of people who have corticosteroid injections go on to have carpal tunnel release surgery within a year.
   
  Corticosteroid injections are more effective than oral corticosteroids. The effect may last for up to 3 months after an injection. But injections are not more effective than either wrist splinting or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications. 
  
  This answer was adapted from Sharecare's award-winning AskMD app. Start a consultation now to find out what's causing your symptoms, learn how to manage a condition, or find a doctor. 
• QHow do corticosteroid injections treat carpal tunnel syndrome?

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  A Dr. Darria Gillespie, MD , Emergency Medicine, answered

  A small amount of corticosteroid, combined with an anesthetic, can be injected directly into the wrist. These injections are sometimes effective for people with less severe carpal tunnel syndrome. They can be used along with other treatments, such as wrist splinting. If an injection improves the condition, this confirms that symptoms are caused by compression within the carpal tunnel, rather than a nerve problem in the shoulder or neck. 
  
  This answer was adapted from Sharecare's award-winning AskMD app. Start a consultation now to find out what's causing your symptoms, learn how to manage a condition, or find a doctor. 
• QHow are corticosteroids used to treat Crohn's disease?

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  A Dr. Darria Gillespie, MD , Emergency Medicine, answered

  Corticosteroids are recommended to treat active disease in most people with Crohn's disease. They may be given alone in milder disease, or combined with a thiopurine or methotrexate for moderate or severe disease. Once the disease is in remission, the corticosteroid is gradually tapered. Corticosteroids are not used for maintaining remission or for long-term treatment.
  
  For children with active Crohn's disease, enteral nutrition, also called tube feeding, is often the first treatment to be tried. Corticosteroids are used when enteral nutrition is not an option or is not helping. 
  
  This answer was adapted from Sharecare's award-winning AskMD app. Start a consultation now to find out what's causing your symptoms, learn how to manage a condition, or find a doctor. 
• QHow effective are corticosteroids in treating inflammatory bowel disease?

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  A Dr. Darria Gillespie, MD , Emergency Medicine, answered

  About 40% of people with IBD treated with a corticosteroid improve within 1 to 2 weeks. When the dosage is tapered and stopped, they stay in remission. About 20% of people don't improve with corticosteroid therapy. Other people on this drug get only partly improved, and some achieve remission but relapse when the corticosteroid is tapered. This is called steroid dependence. People with this problem are usually given a thiopurine or TNF inhibitor to maintain remission. 
  
  This answer was adapted from Sharecare's award-winning AskMD app. Start a consultation now to find out what's causing your symptoms, learn how to manage a condition, or find a doctor. 
• QHow are corticosteroids used to treat inflammatory bowel disease?

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  A Dr. Darria Gillespie, MD , Emergency Medicine, answered

  Corticosteroids, such as prednisone and budesonide, are drugs that act like hormones made by the body's adrenal gland. They are powerful drugs that reduce inflammation and suppress the immune system. They can have serious side effects, especially if taken for long periods. People who need to stop taking them must do it slowly, by taking smaller and smaller (tapered) doses over weeks or months. If you take a corticosteroid, follow your doctor's directions carefully.
  
  People with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are usually given prednisone, taken by mouth. People with severe IBD may receive a corticosteroid by injection, such as hydrocortisone. Budesonide (Entocort EC) is a newer corticosteroid taken by mouth. It acts mainly on the end of the small intestine and start of the large intestine. Budesonide and other corticosteroids are also available as rectal suppositories, foams, or enemas for IBD in the rectum or colon. 
  
  This answer was adapted from Sharecare's award-winning AskMD app. Start a consultation now to find out what's causing your symptoms, learn how to manage a condition, or find a doctor.