Question about <span title="corticosteroid(prednisone)">corticosteroid(prednisone...</span> medicines....?

Question

i've used corticosteroid medicines not for long but about a month before.... it seemed like it did damage somewhat seems like permanent(thinned and fragile skins, weakened joints, overall muscle strenth reduce, etc...).

and also many other people say corticosteroids are nasty stuff. and they will never take it again. and stuff....

it seems like the medicine has some bad reputation..

i wonder why corticosteroids medicine has side effects like this. aren't corticosteroids naturally produced by ourbody from adrenal gland(if i'm right)? and when you take medicine, it's like simple boost thingy for you body to have more corticosteroids in you system for a while and if you stop taking the medicine then your body should be just back to normal and everything is fine. why do you have to have this kind of side effects that are like permanant? i heard someone said

the corticosteroids will eat up our body tissues as they are applied.

is that true???

Answer 1

Trust me, prednisone sucks.  i was on it for a long time when i was a freshman and i became dependent on it (i have a kidney disease).  i gained a ton of weight and i couldnt even recognize myself from the swelling. from the swelling, i have stretch marks. i have cataracts in my eyes now.

cortisol is produced in the adrenal glands, its known as the stress hormone.  however, prednisone suppresses the adrenal glands.  a lot of times, doctors are unsure how prednisone helps the body, it just does, and its standard to give in the beginning of an illness.

these medications are not for long term use because of these side effects.  you CANNOT take a high dose of prednisone, then stop taking it.  it will make your body reek havoc.  one must be tapered off of it.  and eventually i became steroid resistant.  dont be fooled though--they can be a tremendous help. i take 5mg every other day with about 17 other pills and i am able to live a normal life

Answer 2

Corticosteroids are produced by the adrenal glands yes, and are hormones that affect almost every body system.  Corticosteroids can cause loss of calcium, which in turn may result in bone fractures and can cause large bones in the hip to degenerate.  

Common side effects are: muscle weakness, loss of muscle mass, slow healing of wounds and others.

So to answer your question yes if you take corticosteroids for quite awhile they will cause weakened joints and less muscle mass.  It wont do it to every one being that everyone&#039;s body reacts in different ways.

I would stop taking it or talk to your doctor to see if there is anything else you can take.....

Answer 3

Well i&#039;m not familiar with prednisone.  Is that a topical corticosteroid, or oral, or injected?  If it is topical i am pretty knowledgeable on topical corticosteroids so feel free to message me on my profile

Edit:  Since he are oral tablets then yes the corticosteroids deffinetly gets into the systems and acts the same as the natural producing hormone cortisol.  A normal person produces 6-12mgs of cortisol a day i believe so how strong is it?  I would deffinetly ask your doctor if it is a safe amount.  As for long term affects it is possible, but once again not very likely.  Still ask your doctor though alll questions and concerns you have since it is oral and goes basically straight into your system