Side effects of glucocorticoids

  Due to the good efficacy of hormones, there is no shortage of people who use them as a panacea, and their abuse is very serious. In fact, glucocorticoids (GCs) are a double-edged sword, because their powerful immunosuppressive and anti-inflammatory effects can change the pathological process and lead to new lesions at the same time. whether GCs are anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive, or promote inflammation and enhance the immune response depends on the disease and its stage.  Some side effects may occur during the use of hormones.  Short-term systemic use of glucocorticosteroids may include: mood changes, hypersensitivity, hyperglycemia, acne-like lesions, gastrointestinal intolerance, increased appetite, insomnia, menstrual changes, water and sodium retention, and weight gain.  Many serious adverse reactions can occur with long-term supraphysiologic doses of hormone therapy (meaning 4 weeks or more of treatment). In most cases, the side effects are dose-related: medically induced cortisolism, steroidal diabetes mellitus, osteoporosis and aseptic necrosis of the femoral head, myasthenia and myasthenia gravis, electrolyte disturbances (hypokalemia, hypocalcemia, sodium retention), hypoproteinemia, infections (fungal, bacterial, viral), triggering or aggravation of peptic ulcers, induce psychiatric symptoms, induce glaucoma, cataract, mycosis fungoides, growth inhibition, and occasionally cause congenital malformations in fetuses.  Effects on the skin include purpura, microvascular dilation, atrophy, swelling lines, acne-like or rosacea-like rash hirsutism, baldness, hyperpigmentation, acanthosis nigricans, and slowed wound healing. Adverse reactions should be monitored closely during use.