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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2013 Sep 1.
Published in final edited form as: Endocrinol Metab Clin North Am. 2012 May 23;41(3):595–611. doi: 10.1016/j.ecl.2012.04.004

List 2.

Evaluation of the Patient About to Receive Glucocorticoids

Explain the rationale behind the use of glucocorticoids, expected benefits, and alternatives
Use the lowest possible dose and shortest possible course of treatment
Inform patient of the side effects of glucocorticoid therapy
Document informed consent of the patient
Recommend a steroid identification card and medication identification jewelry
Measure:

  • 25-hydroxyvitamin D

  • Creatinine

  • Calcium

  • Glucose, potassium, and lipids

Obtain baseline height, vertebral morphological assessment, and bone mineral density