Have you ever used a cortisone-containing medication? Learn in this article how to reduce the dose of cortisone in order to avoid many damages that may be dangerous to your health.
Corticosteroids are drugs that are used to lessen the swelling, redness, pain, and inflammation that come with many illnesses, but they can be harmful if misused or stopped suddenly.
Learn how to take a treatment that contains cortisone, the necessary precautions that must be taken when taking a treatment containing cortisone, and the symptoms associated with taking a treatment that contains cortisone.
How to reduce the dose of cortisone
Many people who take cortisone on a regular basis wonder how to lower the dosage. It's crucial to avoid lowering the cortisone dosage without first talking to a doctor. If you use cortisone for more than a few days, the doctor will gradually reduce the dose of cortisone even if you want to stop the treatment containing cortisone.
If you want to lower your cortisone dosage, it's critical to understand the following:
1. Follow the plan to gradually lower the cortisone dosage
Since the dose reduction for cortisone must be done gradually, the doctor creates a plan or schedule.
Once the dose is low enough, the doctor will stop the cortisone dose completely if necessary.
2. Sudden stopping cortisone negatively affects your body
When cortisone therapy is abruptly stopped, the adrenal gland's production of many of the body's hormones is halted. This can cause symptoms like dizziness, fatigue, appetite loss, and others.
This is because cortisone mimics the action of the hormone cortisol, which is naturally made by the adrenal glands in the human body, which plays a key role in metabolism, body immunity, and the body’s response to stress. of the issues.
3. Depending on the dosage and length of the treatment, different reduction strategies are used for cortisone.
Therefore, there isn't a specific guideline that can be applied generally to lower cortisone dosage.
Symptoms associated with reducing the dose of corticosteroids
Several withdrawal symptoms, which can be mild or severe, may appear after cutting back on the cortisone dosage. These symptoms include the following:
- Fatigue.
- A rise in body temperature.
- Headache .
- Joint pain.
- drop in blood pressure
- myalgia
- vomiting.
- Nausea .
- Anorexia.
- Weight loss.
- Breathing difficulty.
- muscle stiffness
It is normal to feel the previous symptoms in a mild form for a week or two in the event that the dose of cortisone used is reduced. Before seeing a doctor, it is recommended to avoid using any medications to treat symptoms, such as painkillers.
A test to measure cortisol levels during the cortisone dose reduction period may be necessary if withdrawal symptoms last for a longer time. Based on the results, the doctor may advise a slower dose reduction or even a return to the initial dose.
Instructions when taking corticosteroids
The following are the most crucial advice and guidelines for using cortisone medications:
- Observe the dosage and administration recommendations provided by your doctor.
- Be careful not to stop taking cortisone or reduce your dosage without consulting your doctor first.
- While taking corticosteroids, avoid taking any other drugs unless your doctor has approved them.
- If you experience fatigue while taking less cortisone, consult your doctor.
- To lessen the stomach irritability brought on by corticosteroid use, take corticosteroids with or after a meal, typically after breakfast.
- If you forgot to take your medication, take it as soon as you remember, but skip the missed dose if it's time for your next dose.
- To make up for a missed dose, do not take a second dose of corticosteroids.
- Tell your doctor if you notice problems with your mental and emotional health, such as suicidal thoughts or depression .