Corticosteroids

Corticosteroids are one of the most important classes of anti-inflammatory and immune modulators in a physician’s arsenal to help treat a variety of conditions. They also have significant adverse effects with short- and long-term use and, therefore, need to be prescribed judiciously. This article briefly reviews the uses and adverse effects of corticosteroids.

Corticosteroids have been used to treat a wide range of diseases, including allergic, dermatologic, gastrointestinal, and hematologic/oncologic disorders; some infectious diseases; organ transplant; renal disease; and respiratory and rheumatologic disorders. In some cases, such as acute asthma exacerbations, a short course of oral corticosteroids is used for 3 to 5 days. In other situations, patients need to take corticosteroids for much longer, sometimes months to years. In general, if someone has been receiving systemic corticosteroids for less than 10 to 14 days, it is deemed safe to vaccinate him or her, including with live viral vaccines, per the Red Book. However, it is recommended to try to limit the duration to the shortest time possible and the amount/dose of corticosteroids to the lowest potency to achieve the desired results.