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Introduction
Uses
How it works
Differences
Dosage
Side effects and risks - short-term systemic steroids
Side effects and risks - long-term systemic steroids
Risks
Effects of dose reduction
Monitoring
A corticosteroid taken by mouth or given by intramuscular injection is often called a systemic steroid. Systemic steroids are synthetic derivatives of the natural steroid, cortisol, produced by the adrenal glands, and have profound anti-inflammatory effects.
Systemic (cortico)steroids are also called glucocorticoids or cortisones. They include:
Prednisone and prednisolone are equivalent and are the most commonly prescribed oral corticosteroids for inflammatory skin diseases. Oral prednisone is the most commonly prescribed systemic steroid in New Zealand.
Fludrocortisone is predominantly a mineralocorticoid and its anti-inflammatory effects are minimal.
Prednisone is used for a few days (short-term) to indefinitely (long-term) in a wide variety of skin conditions including:
Systemic steroids are best avoided in patients with psoriasis.
Systemic steroids work in the same way as natural cortisol. Natural cortisol has important effects on the body, including regulation of:
Systemic steroids differ in dose, mineralocorticoid potency, half-life (duration of action) and how effectively they suppress the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis (suppression leads to reduced production of natural cortisol).
Drug |
Cortisone |
Hydrocortisone |
Prednisone |
Methylprednisolone |
Dexamethasone |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Equivalent dose |
25 |
20 |
5 |
4 |
0.75 |
Mineralocorticoid potency |
2+ |
2+ |
1+ |
0-0.5+ |
0 |
Biological half-life |
8–12 |
8–12 |
24–36 |
24–36 |
36–54 |
Daily dose causing HPA axis suppression (mg) |
25–30 |
20–30 |
7.5 |
7.5 |
1–1.5 |
* Comparison of systemic corticosteroids – Vancouver Coastal Health Formulary tool. Accessed 12 July 2014.
Generally, a higher dose of prednisone, such as 40–60 mg daily, is prescribed at first, to gain control of the skin condition. In 2–4 weeks, the dose is reduced.
Prednisone is best taken as a single dose in the morning, which is thought to reduce steroid-induced suppression of the pituitary-adrenal axis compared to evening dosing.
The maintenance dose should be kept as low as possible to minimise adverse effects.
Steroid dose is commonly characterised as:
Treatment for less than one month is considered short-term treatment. Corticosteroids for a few days or weeks are relatively safe when prescribed for acute dermatitis. Treatment continuing for more than 3 months is regarded as long-term, and results in the majority of undesirable side effects.
Side effects are rarely serious if a systemic steroid has been prescribed for one month or less. The following problems may arise, particularly when higher doses are taken:
Rare and potentially serious side effects of a short course of corticosteroid include:
The risk of a serious side effect increases with increasing dose.
See DermNet's page on prophylactic treatments for dermatology patients on systemic corticosteroid.
Nearly everyone on a systemic steroid for more than a month suffers from some adverse effects, depending on daily dose and how long they have been on the drug. The main concerns are infections, hypertension, diabetes, osteoporosis, avascular necrosis, myopathy, cataracts, and glaucoma. The list that follows is incomplete.
Cutaneous adverse effects from long-term systemic steroids may include:
The effects of systemic steroids on atherosclerotic vascular disease may be due to complex metabolic changes, including:
Osteoporosis is particularly common in smokers, postmenopausal women, the elderly, underweight or immobile, and patients with diabetes or lung problems. Osteoporosis may result in fractures of the spine, ribs or hip joint with minimal trauma. These occur after the first year in 10–20% of patients treated with more than 7.5 mg prednisone daily. It is estimated that up to 50% of patients on long-term prednisone will develop bone fractures. Vertebral fractures are more common in patients on steroids, even in those with normal bone density.
Live vaccines such as polio or MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) should not be given to patients taking ≥ 20 mg prednisone daily. It is safe and advisable to have other routine immunisations, such as annual influenza vaccination.
Significant intercurrent illness, trauma, or surgical procedure requires a temporary increase in corticosteroid dose, or if already stopped, a temporary re-introduction of corticosteroid treatment for up to twelve months after the steroids are stopped.
Patients who have taken ≥10 mg prednisone daily within 3 months of surgery requiring a general anaesthetic are advised to tell their anaesthetist so that intraoperative intravenous hydrocortisone can be added.
No tapering is necessary if a course of prednisone has been for less than one to two weeks. Steroid should be withdrawn slowly after longer courses, to avoid acute adrenal insufficiency, particularly if the medication has been taken for several months or longer.
Side effects from reducing prednisone may include:
Hypopituitary-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis suppression can persist for months or years after steroids are stopped.
Regular monitoring during treatment with systemic steroid may include:
Patients on prednisone should be advised to avoid non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and licorice.
Bone density scans should be considered for patients that have taken or are expected to take 7.5 mg or more of prednisone each day for three months or longer. Baseline fracture risk can be estimated from T-scores.
Current recommendations are:
Calcium, vitamin D and oestrogen are no longer recommended for prophylaxis of osteoporosis, as adverse events outweigh the benefit.
Approved datasheets are the official source of information for medicines, including approved uses, doses, and safety information. Check the individual datasheet in your country for information about medicines.
We suggest you refer to your national drug approval agency such as the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), UK Medicines and Healthcare products regulatory agency (MHRA) / emc, and NZ Medsafe, or a national or state-approved formulary eg, the New Zealand Formulary (NZF) and New Zealand Formulary for Children (NZFC) and the British National Formulary (BNF) and British National Formulary for Children (BNFC).
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