York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Drugs used in IBD
They may suggest taking the steroids early in the day to minimise disruption to your sleep pattern. This is why it’s generally recommended that you don’t take steroids later than 2.00pm. Some people find it difficult to sleep when they’re taking steroids. You can usually drink alcohol while taking steroid tablets, but don’t drink too much as this may irritate your stomach.
You need to take all five tablets at one time in the morning with food and they should not be taken as individual tablets throughout the day. You should also tell your doctor if you are diabetic (taking steroids can affect your sugar levels) or if there is a chance you may be pregnant. Steroids (also known as corticosteroids) may be used to treat relapses in multiple sclerosis.
Children and teenagers
These steroids are used to treat various diseases, including lupus, multiple sclerosis, and arthritis. They work similarly to cortisol by slowing or stopping the immune system from triggering inflammation. The concern arises when a person abuses one or both substances.
- If you’ve been taking steroid tablets for more than a few days, you usually need to reduce your dose gradually.
- This condition makes it more likely that you’ll fracture your bones, sometimes after very minor falls or bumps.
- Some people feel low or flat for several days to weeks after they stop taking steroids, as it takes a while for your body to begin making its own steroids naturally again.
- We know that it is common to struggle with your mental health when you have cancer or care for someone with cancer.
The side effects of methylprednisolone are usually mild and will go away quickly when you finish the treatment course. The most common side effects include a metallic taste, indigestion, difficulty sleeping, mood swings or altered mood and flushing of the face. If you do need treatment for steroid-induced diabetes, your options may include injecting insulin, taking medication or making lifestyle changes, such as eating well and moving more. You can find out more about these different treatment options, but your healthcare team will work with you to make sure your plan is right for you.
Less common side effects
You might also be given a drug called a proton pump inhibitor or another medicine to protect your stomach. If you have diabetes, your blood sugar levels may be higher than usual. Talk to your doctor or nurse about effective contraception before starting your cancer treatment. Let them know straight away if you or your partner falls pregnant while having treatment.
Don’t have immunisations with live vaccines while you’re having treatment and for up to 12 months afterwards. Ask your doctor or pharmacist how long you should steroids to buy uk avoid live vaccinations. Symptoms of an infection include a change in temperature, aching muscles, headaches, feeling cold and shivery and generally unwell.
Avoid close contact with people who’ve recently had live vaccines taken by mouth (oral vaccines) such as oral polio or the typhoid vaccine. In the UK, live vaccines include rubella, mumps, measles, BCG, yellow fever and the shingles vaccine (Zostavax). This drug can cause inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis). Tell your doctor straight away if you have sudden and severe pain in your tummy (abdomen).
What are steroids?
Your doctor may reduce your dose or suggest taking your tablets less often (for example, every other day) if you’re having side effects. It’s normally best to take steroid tablets with or soon after a meal – usually breakfast – because this can stop them irritating your stomach. At your annual asthma review, your GP or asthma nurse can talk to you about your risk and what you can do to reduce this risk. You’re less likely to get side effects from a short course of steroid tablets (less than three weeks).
How are biologics used in IBD?
Don’t do this without speaking to your doctor or surgeon first though, as in some cases you might be able to carry on taking them, and you may need to have your dose changed before the operation. If you’re using a steroid cream it’s fine to have vaccinations, but you’ll need to tell the person giving you the injection to avoid the area being treated with the cream. If you have any questions or concerns about this, talk to the healthcare professional who prescribed your steroids. Steroid treatment can stop the body producing natural hormones, which can be dangerous if you get ill, have an accident or need an operation.