Corticosteroid oral medication

Tablets or liquid corticosteroids enter the bloodstream and can calm inflammation in more than one body area. They may be used for a defined course or as part of a longer plan. Possible effects include changes in sleep, mood, appetite, blood sugar, blood pressure, and infection response. The likelihood and severity depend on the medicine, dose, duration, and personal health. A course that has continued for a while may need gradual reduction because the body’s own steroid production can be suppressed.

Take each dose according to the prescription, at the advised time, and follow instructions about food. If you miss a dose, check the label or contact a pharmacist rather than doubling up. Keep an updated medicine list and tell healthcare workers that you take or recently took a corticosteroid. Ask about vaccines, infection exposure, exercise, and monitoring of blood pressure or glucose. Do not borrow tablets or use leftover medicine. Learn more in Corticosteroid.

Seek urgent care for severe breathing trouble, swelling of the face or throat, fainting, severe confusion, or thoughts of self-harm. Contact your prescriber promptly for fever, worsening infection symptoms, persistent vomiting, marked thirst and urination, severe abdominal pain, or major vision changes. Never conceal these symptoms because the medicine may alter how illness appears.

How should I take this course with food, what happens if I miss a dose, and does it need gradual reduction? Which symptoms or checks should prompt a call?