Steroids
Steroid medicines are used for many different medical conditions. Steroids can be given as creams/ointments (eg, for eczema or dermatitis), as a nasal spray (eg, for hay fever or allergic rhinitis), as inhalers (eg, for asthma), as tablets (eg, for inflammatory bowel disease) or as an injection (eg, for arthritis).
What are steroids?
Steroids are hormones that occur naturally in the body. Steroid medicines are man-made and are similar to the natural hormones made in the body. The type of steroids used to treat disease are called corticosteroids. They are different to the anabolic steroids which some athletes and bodybuilders use. Anabolic steroids have very different effects.
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Book nowHow do steroids work?
Steroids are a man-made version of hormones normally produced by the adrenal glands, which are just above each kidney. When taken in doses higher than the amount your body normally produces, steroids:
- Reduce inflammation. Inflammation occurs when the body's immune system responds to injury or infection. When this affects the skin and tissues under the skin then the area can become painful, hot, red and swollen. Inflammation usually helps to protect you but sometimes inflammation can cause harm to your body. Steroids can help to treat inflammatory conditions such as asthma and eczema.
- Reduce the activity of the immune system, the body's natural defence against illness and infection. This can help treat autoimmune conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis, autoimmune hepatitis or systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), which are caused by the immune system mistakenly attacking the body.
Types of steroids
Steroids come in many different forms. The main types of steroids are:
Oral steroids
Oral steroids reduce inflammation and are used for treating many different conditions, including:
- Asthma.
- Crohn's disease.
- Ulcerative colitis
- Arthritis
- Multiple sclerosis.
- Adrenal insufficiency.
- Hypopituitarism.
- As part of the treatment for various cancers.
See also the separate leaflet called Oral Steroids.
Topical steroids
Topical steroids include those used for the skin, nasal sprays and inhalers. See also the separate leaflet called Topical Steroids (excluding Inhaled Steroids).
Topical steroids used for the skin are available as creams, ointments or lotions. Topical steroids are used for various skin conditions. The amount of topical steroid that you should apply is commonly measured by fingertip units. For more information see the separate leaflets called Topical Steroids for Eczema and Fingertip Units for Topical Steroids.
Topical steroids can also be given as:
- Eye drops to reduce inflammation on the surface of the eye such as caused by uveitis.
- Rectal foam or suppositories to treat ulcerative colitis (proctitis) or for Crohn's disease affecting the rectum.
Steroid nasal sprays
Steroid nasal sprays are medicines that are commonly used to treat symptoms of stuffiness or congestion in the nose. They are used most often for allergies of the nose, such as hay fever. See also the separate leaflet called Steroid Nasal Sprays.
Steroid inhalers
Steroid inhalers are steroids that are breathed in and down into your lungs. Steroids are mainly used to treat asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). For more information see the separate leaflets called Inhalers for Asthma (including Inhaled Steroids) and Inhalers for COPD (including Inhaled Steroids).
Steroid injections
Steroid injections can be used for joint problems and rheumatoid arthritis. They can also be used for some conditions affecting soft tissues, like tendon inflammation or tennis elbow. For more information see the separate leaflet called Steroid Injections.
Side effects of steroids
Steroids don't tend to cause significant side-effects if they're taken for a short time or at a low dose. Side-effects are much more common with oral steroids and can include:
- Indigestion (dyspepsia).
- Heartburn (acid reflux).
- Increased appetite, which may cause weight gain.
- Difficulty sleeping.
- Increased risk of infections, especially viral infections such as shingles or measles.
- Pre-diabetes or type 2 diabetes.
- Weakening of the bones (osteoporosis).
- High blood pressure (hypertension).
- Cushing's syndrome due to excessive steroid in the body, which can lead to various effects on the body, including thinning of the skin, easy bruising and stretch marks.
- Eye conditions, such as glaucoma and cataracts.
- Mental health problems, including:
- Changes in mood and behaviour - eg, feeling irritable or anxious.
- Depression.
Further reading and references
Clinical guideline for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis; National Osteoporosis Guideline Group (NOGG - 2017)
Corticosteroids - inhaled; NICE CKS, September 2015 (UK access only)
Corticosteroids - oral; NICE CKS, August 2015 (UK access only)
British National Formulary (BNF); NICE Evidence Services (UK access only)