Generic Name

Brand Name

Dosage

Side-effects

Comments

cortisone

Cortone acetate

Varies depending on the disease.  5 mg up to higher doses depending on need

Osteoporosis, facial swelling (moon-face), easy bruising, cataract formation, elevation of blood pressure, elevation of blood sugar, difficulty sleeping at night, changes in personality or mood, thinning of the skin, muscle weakness

There are many potential side-effects with long-term use of corticosteroids.  Shorter term use lessens the risk.  These medications may interfere with fighting off infection or with wound healing.  They need to be used very cautiously in patients with a prior history of tuberculosis and may require the additional use of INH with it.  With all of the corticosteroids it is preferable if they are tapered gradually after long-term use rather than abruptly stopping them which in some diseases might cause a flare-up. When a patient undergoes surgery with general anesthesia, they will often require extra doses of cortisone to prevent the possiblity of circulatory collapse (a marked drop in the patient's blood pressure).

dexamethasone

Decadron

0.75 or higher dosing depending on the illness

Same as above

This is a longer acting corticosteroid which  may have the potential for even more significant side-effects and therefore it is preferable to try to use the shorter acting corticosteroids such as prednisone or prednisolone in the rheumatic diseases. With all of the corticosteroids it is preferable if they are tapered gradually after long-term use rather than abruptly stopping them which in some diseases might cause a flare-up. When a patient undergoes surgery with general anesthesia, they will often require extra doses of cortisone to prevent the possiblity of circulatory collapse (a marked drop in the patient's blood pressure).

hydrocortisone

Cortef or Hydrocortone

20 mg or higher depending on its usage

Same as above

 With all of the corticosteroids it is preferable if they are tapered gradually after long-term use rather than abruptly stopping them which in some diseases might cause a flare-up. When a patient undergoes surgery with general anesthesia, they will often require extra doses of cortisone to prevent the possiblity of circulatory collapse (a marked drop in the patient's blood pressure).

methylprednisolone

Medrol

4 mg tablets with increasing doses as indicated.  This also comes in a Dosepak which starts with six tablets on the first day and then tapers by one tablet each day so that the patient is off of this completely after a six day course.  There are other Dosepaks that last longer than a six day course

Same as above

 With all of the corticosteroids it is preferable if they are tapered gradually after long-term use rather than abruptly stopping them which in some diseases might cause a flare-up. When a patient undergoes surgery with general anesthesia, they will often require extra doses of cortisone to prevent the possiblity of circulatory collapse (a marked drop in the patient's blood pressure).

prednisolone

Prelone

5 mg up to higher doses depending on the indications

Same as above

 The most commonly used oral steroid. With all of the corticosteroids it is preferable if they are tapered gradually after long-term use rather than abruptly stopping them which in some diseases might cause a flare-up. When a patient undergoes surgery with general anesthesia, they will often require extra doses of cortisone to prevent the possiblity of circulatory collapse (a marked drop in the patient's blood pressure).

prednisone

Deltasone, orasone

1 mg, 5 mg, 10 mg and 20 mg tabs are available.  These may be used in very tiny doses on up to higher doses depending on the indications

Same as above

 With all of the corticosteroids it is preferable if they are tapered gradually after long-term use rather than abruptly stopping them which in some diseases might cause a flare-up. When a patient undergoes surgery with general anesthesia, they will often require extra doses of cortisone to prevent the possiblity of circulatory collapse (a marked drop in the patient's blood pressure).

triamcinolone

Aristocort

4 mg or higher depending on indications

Same as above

 With all of the corticosteroids it is preferable if they are tapered gradually after long-term use rather than abruptly stopping them which in some diseases might cause a flare-up. When a patient undergoes surgery with general anesthesia, they will often require extra doses of cortisone to prevent the possiblity of circulatory collapse (a marked drop in the patient's blood pressure).