Should i take cortisone

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This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version. See more conditions. Prednisone and other corticosteroids. Products and services. Prednisone and other corticosteroids Weigh the benefits and risks of corticosteroids, such as prednisone, when choosing a medication.

By Mayo Clinic Staff. Thank you for Subscribing Our Housecall e-newsletter will keep you up-to-date on the latest health information. Please try again. Something went wrong on our side, please try again. Show references Ritter JM, et al. The pituitary and the adrenal cortex. Elsevier; Accessed Oct. Grennan D, et al. Steroid side effects. Saag KG, et al. Major side effects of systemic glucocorticoids. Major side effects of inhaled glucocorticoids. Roberts WN, et al. Joint aspiration or injection in adults: Complications.

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Can baby eczema be prevented? Can I exercise if I have atopic dermatitis? The injections usually contain a corticosteroid medication and a local anesthetic. Often, you can receive one at your doctor's office. Because of potential side effects, the number of shots you can get in a year generally is limited.

Cortisone shots might be most effective in treating inflammatory arthritis, such as rheumatoid arthritis. They can also be part of treatment for other conditions, including:. Potential side effects of cortisone shots increase with larger doses and repeated use.

Side effects can include:. There's concern that repeated cortisone shots might damage the cartilage within a joint. So doctors typically limit the number of cortisone shots into a joint. In general, you shouldn't get cortisone injections more often than every six weeks and usually not more than three or four times a year. If you take blood thinners, you might need to stop taking them for several days before your cortisone shot to reduce bleeding or bruising risk.

Some dietary supplements also have a blood-thinning effect. Ask your doctor what medications and supplements you should avoid before your cortisone shot.

Tell your doctor if you've had a temperature of Your doctor might ask you to change into a gown. You'll then be positioned so that your doctor can easily insert the needle. The area around the injection site is cleaned. Your doctor might also apply an anesthetic spray to numb the area where the needle will be inserted. Taking too many steroid tablets over a long period can make you more likely to get side effects. If you've been taking steroid tablets for more than a few days, you usually need to reduce your dose gradually.

Stopping suddenly can cause your adrenal gland, which makes important hormones for the body, to stop working. This is known as adrenal insufficiency. Your doctor will be able to provide more advice about how to safely stop taking steroids. Taking steroid tablets for less than 3 weeks is unlikely to cause any significant side effects. But you may get some side effects if you need to take them for longer or at a high dose.

Most side effects will pass once treatment stops. Tell your doctor if they bother you. You can report any suspected side effect to the UK Yellow Card safety scheme. Your doctor may reduce your dose or suggest taking your tablets less often for example, every other day if you're having side effects.

They may also sometimes recommend other medicines to take alongside steroids to protect you from some of the side effects, such as medicines to help prevent indigestion or heartburn, or medicines that help strengthen the bones.

You may be given a special steroid treatment card that explains how you can reduce the risk of side effects. Some medicines interfere with the way steroid tablets work. Tell your doctor if you take any other medicines, including herbal remedies and supplements, before starting steroid tablets. If you're already taking steroid tablets, ask your doctor or a pharmacist for advice before taking any other medicines, remedies or supplements.

You can usually drink alcohol while taking steroid tablets, but do not drink too much as this may irritate your stomach.