Corticosteroids for Arthritis.

Last updated Thursday, December 30, 2004

Characteristics of corticosteroids

Types of corticosteroids

Commonly used corticosteroid medications include:

This is a partial list and includes generic and brand names. Various corticosteroid syrups are available for children. Some corticosteroid preparations can be taken by injection.

Why corticosteroids?

Corticosteroids are used in arthritis for two reasons. First, they are anti-inflammatory; that is, they decrease inflammation. Many people who have rheumatic diseases experience a lot of inflammation, which is the process that causes the joint pain, warmth, and swelling of arthritis and related conditions. Inflammation can take place in the joints (rheumatoid arthritis), in the tendons (tendinitis), or in different organs at the same time (lupus).

In rheumatic diseases, one of the purposes of therapy is to stop inflammation and the damage it causes. Medications known as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are often used to stop inflammation, but they may not be strong enough or may have too many side effects. When side effects from NSAIDs present a problem or inflammation is severe and threatens to cause serious damage, your doctor may prescribe corticosteroids to decrease inflammation.

Second, corticosteroids are immunosuppressive. This means that they reduce the activity of your immune system. A healthy immune system helps defend your body against bacteria, viruses, and cancer. However, sometimes the immune system goes out of control and starts attacking the tissues and organs of its own body. This is called autoimmunity, and most doctors feel that with diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and vasculitis, the immune system has started attacking the body's own tissues and organs. In these diseases, corticosteroids help by decreasing the harmful autoimmune activity. However, they also decrease the body's helpful immune activity, which can increase susceptibility to infection and interfere with the healing process.

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