|
|
The benefits of corticosteroids in lupus treatment can be measured in terms of increased life expectancy. In 1955, the survival rate at five years for lupus patients was only 50%. By 1995, the survival rate at 20 years had already reached 80%. In fact, many women stay healthy to keep their works for decades after diagnosis with lupus disease.
Even though corticosteroids have a benefit in lupus treatment, the risks of corticosteroids are serious enough to warrant very careful dosage adjustments and monitoring, as well as the addition of steroid-sparing drugs. The doctor describes both long term and short term side effects. The short term effects, which can generally be reversed by decreasing the dose, are:
- Mood changes. Some feel energetic and euphoric, while others feel depressed or irritable. Different people react differently.
- Facial hair. Some patients notice coarser or more plentiful facial hair.
- High blood sugar. Diabetics may require a change in their therapy, and patients at risk for diabetes need careful monitoring.
- Acne. This may start or get worse with corticosteroids.
- Increased risk of infections. Since inflammation is our first line of defense against infections of all types, all anti-inflammatory medications increase the risk. Corticosteroids are powerful enough to be of great concern.
- Water retention or Swelling. These medications influence the body’s transport of salts. Patients may notice swelling at some part of the body especially of the ankles.
Tags:
diabetics,
high blood sugar,
lupus,
lupus patients,
side effects of corticosteroids,
survival rate,
Top incoming keywords for this article: lupus steroids side effects, steroids for autoimmune disease, steroids and autoimmune disease, autoimmune disease AND steroids, corticosteroids for lupus, steroids autoimmune diseases, autoimmune disease steroids, side effects of steroids for lupus, corticosteroids and lupus, lupus corticosteroids, side effects of lupus disease, steroids for lupus treatment, corticosteroids for SLE side effects, corticosteroids lupus, autoimmune diseases and steroids, lupus side effects, lupus treatment side effects, autoimmune diseases steroids, side effects of corticosteroids, side effects of lupus
April 23rd, 2010 at 2:24 am
Are the Tea Party people real or manufactured? Has anyone here met one because I think one of the previous comments is slanted in that philosophy which I am not sure what that really is.
April 23rd, 2010 at 11:34 am
That’s great information about newest issues. I’ve discovered a lot out of your post. Here is even higher website about this topic. Speed Healthy Dieting.
April 25th, 2010 at 12:49 pm
Either consider what it is that we’re doing that could be causing elevated levels of toxicity in the body (diet, environment, poisonous chemicals, metals in tooth fillings, unbalanced hormones, Candida, other yeast infections etc.) or improve our body’s ability at filtering them via the liver and kidneys. For the most successful acne campaign, both is necessary.