What do I need to know about taking steroids long term?

For some people, taking steroids long term is part of managing their health condition.

But most medications, including steroids, have consequences if you need to take them over a prolonged period.

We explain what you need to know about steroid dependency and how taking simple measures such as wearing a medic alert can give you confidence in your day-to-day life.

What are steroids?

Steroids are medications that treat a wide range of health conditions. They’re an artificially produced version of the hormones created by the adrenal glands.

Steroid medications are also referred to as corticosteroids and are different from the anabolic steroids that bodybuilders and athletes use to build body mass.

They have the ability to:

• Reduce inflammation. Used in creams and ointments, they can help skin conditions such as eczema and dermatitis. In tablet form, they’re good for other disorders involving inflammation, such as inflammatory bowel disease. They can also be used in inhalers to treat asthma.
• Reduce immune system activity. This makes them good for autoimmune diseases such as lupus or rheumatoid arthritis (they can be taken as tablets or injected) or for conditions like hay fever and allergic rhinitis in the form of a nasal spray.

What are the reasons for taking steroids long term?

Steroids are commonly taken for a short period — for example, to treat upper respiratory infections, acute bronchitis and uveitis (inflammation in the middle layer of the eye).

However, some patients need to take steroids over the long term because of the nature of their condition. Long-term steroid use for arthritis is a common example. Other conditions treated by steroids long-term include:

• Crohn’s disease
• Multiple sclerosis
• Asthma
• Psoriasis
• Lupus

What are the side effects of long-term steroid use?

While all medications come with side effects, a short course of steroids doesn’t normally cause issues.

However, if you have to take steroids over the long term, you need to know about possible side effects, which can include:

• Indigestion
• Heartburn
• Increased appetite (and weight gain as a result)
• High blood pressure
• A higher risk of infections, especially viral infections like measles and shingles
• Pre-diabetes or type 2 diabetes
• Osteoporosis
• Eye conditions including cataracts and glaucoma
• Cushing’s syndrome — symptoms include fatty deposits on your chest, tummy, back of your neck and shoulders, a puffy face, stretch marks and skin that bruises easily
• Irritability
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Difficulty sleeping

If you stop taking some steroid medications — such as topical steroids to treat skin conditions — after using them for 12 months or more, you may suffer from withdrawal side effects, including:

• Redness or changes to your skin colour
• Burning, stinging, itchy or peeling skin

Speak to your doctor if you suffer from the side effects of taking steroids or have any questions about your medication.

What should I do if I need to take steroids long term?

If you need to use steroid medication long term, it’s important to keep regular appointments with your doctor or healthcare provider.

This allows them to monitor your overall health and wellbeing and check for side effects like diabetes and high blood pressure, which can become serious if left untreated.

It’s also a good idea for people on a long-term steroid course to wear med alerts to let healthcare professionals know they are taking this type of medication.

This is essential information in an emergency and means you won’t miss your dose of medication.

This is important because a condition called adrenal crisis can occur if you don’t take your steroid medication as prescribed. This can cause unpleasant symptoms such as weakness, fatigue, abdominal pain, weight loss and nausea.

Bracelets or IDs stating that you are steroid dependent are a simple way to display this information.

You can also use a write on medical alert bracelet and insert any relevant information yourself. Or, you can keep an emergency medical information card in your wallet or purse with details about your condition and medication.

There are lots of ways to making your condition and steroid use known — choose one that suits you best. It will give you the peace of mind of knowing that your will be cared for appropriately in an emergency.

Keeping healthy and enjoying peace of mind too!

When your doctor first prescribes you steroids to take on a long-term basis, they will weigh up the side effects against the benefits they can bring.

As long as you take your steroid medication as advised by your doctor, keep your medical appointments and seek help for any side effects, you should find it an effective way to keep on top of your condition.

You can also browse our selection of medical ID alerts to help you feel confident as you go about your everyday life. It’s all about keeping you healthy and enjoying peace of mind too!