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CORTICOSTEROIDS

  • Corticosteroids are a class of steroid hormones produced in the adrenal cortex or synthesized for medical use.

  • They play essential roles in a wide range of physiological processes, including immune response modulation, inflammation reduction, and maintenance of homeostasis.

  • Medically, corticosteroids are used to treat various conditions such as autoimmune diseases, allergic reactions, asthma, and inflammatory disorders.

Classification of Corticosteroids

Classification of Corticosteroids
Classification of Corticosteroids

Short-Acting Glucocorticoids

  • Examples: Cortisone, Hydrocortisone

  • Mechanism: Decreases inflammation and reduces immune system activity.

  • Uses: Treats adrenal insufficiency, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, asthma, allergies, and other inflammatory conditions.

  • Side Effects: Weight gain, glucose intolerance, hypertension, mood swings, thinning of the skin

Intermediate-Acting Glucocorticoids

  • Example: Prednisolone

  • Mechanism: Decreases inflammation and reduces immune system activity.

  • Uses: Treats rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, severe psoriasis, severe asthma, ulcerative colitis, and Crohn's disease.

  • Side Effects: Weight gain, glucose intolerance, hypertension, mood swings, thinning of the skin.

Long-Acting Glucocorticoids

  • Examples: Betamethasone, Dexamethasone

  • Mechanism: Decreases inflammation and reduces immune system activity.

  • Uses: Used in high doses to treat severe allergic reactions, inflammation, multiple sclerosis, lupus, and certain types of arthritis.

  • Side Effects: Osteoporosis, weight gain, glucose intolerance, hypertension, mood swings, thinning of the skin, cataracts.

Summary of Corticosteroids

Classification

Example

Primary Action

Uses

Common Side Effects

Short-Acting Glucocorticoids

Cortisone, Hydrocortisone

Reduces inflammation, suppresses immune response

Adrenal insufficiency, rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, allergies

Weight gain, glucose intolerance, hypertension, mood swings

Intermediate-Acting Glucocorticoids

Prednisolone

Reduces inflammation, suppresses immune response

Rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, asthma, psoriasis, colitis

Weight gain, glucose intolerance, hypertension, mood swings

Long-Acting Glucocorticoids

Betamethasone, Dexamethasone

Reduces inflammation, suppresses immune response

Severe allergies, multiple sclerosis, arthritis, lupus

Osteoporosis, weight gain, glucose intolerance, cataracts


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