Corticosteroids 50-22-6

Synthetic pharmaceutical drugs with corticosteroid-like effects are used in a variety of conditions, ranging from brain tumors to skin diseases. Its derivatives are almost pure glucocorticoids, while and its derivatives have some mineralocorticoid action in addition to the glucocorticoid effect. (Florinef) is a synthetic mineralocorticoid.

Hydrocortisone (cortisol) is available for replacement therapy, e. G. In adrenal insufficiency and congenital adrenal hyperplasia.

Synthetic glucocorticoids are used in the treatment of joint pain or inflammation (arthritis), temporal arteritis, dermatitis, allergic reactions, asthma, hepatitis, systemic lupus erythematosus, inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease), sarcoidosis and for glucocorticoid replacement in Addison's disease or other forms of adrenal insufficiency.

Topical formulations are also available for the skin, eyes (uveitis), lungs (asthma), nose (rhinitis), and bowels. Corticosteroids are also used supportively to prevent nausea, often in combination with 5-HT3 antagonists (e. G. Ondansetron). Typical undesired effects of glucocorticoids present quite uniformly as drug-induced Cushing's syndrome.

Typical mineralocorticoid side-effects are hypertension (abnormally high blood pressure), hypokalemia (low potassium levels in the blood), hypernatremia (high sodium levels in the blood) without causing peripheral edema, metabolic alkalosis and connective tissue weakness.

There may also be impaired wound healing or ulcer formation because of the immunosuppressive effects. Clinical and experimental evidence indicates that corticosteroids can cause permanent eye damage by inducing central serous retinopathy (CSR, also known as central serous chorioretinopathy, CSC).

A variety of steroid medications, from anti-allergy nasal sprays (Nasonex, Flonase) to topical skin creams, to eye drops (Tobradex), to have been implicated in the development of CSR.

Corticosteroids have been widely used in treating people with traumatic brain injury. [6] A systematic review identified 20 randomised controlled trials and included 12, 303 participants, then compared patients who received corticosteroids with patients who received no treatment.

The authors recommended people with traumatic head injury should not be routinely treated with corticosteroids.