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. 2014 Oct 9;2(1):6–12. doi: 10.1093/nop/npu029

Table 2.

Steroid-associated side effects

Side Effects	Frequency^a	Symptoms	Prophylaxis/Treatment
Cushing's syndrome		Moon face	P: stay below Cushing threshold (see Table 1)
		Hyperglycemia	P: stay below Cushing threshold (see Table 1)
		Hypertension	T: tapering steroid dose below Cushing threshold
		Striae	T: tapering steroid dose below Cushing threshold
Osteoporosis	Up to 50%	Pain	P: short treatment periods
Osteoporosis	Up to 50%	Fractures	T: Calcium and Vitamin D supplement, bisphosphonates
Myopathy	Up to 60%	Muscle weakness	P: stay below 10 mg/d prednisone (equivalent)
Myopathy	Up to 60%	Muscle weakness	T: switch from fluorinated to non-fluorinated steroids physical therapy
Steroid-induced diabetes	Up to 50%	Cardiovascular alterations	P: regular blood sugar samples for early diagnosis
		Renal failure	P: regular blood sugar samples for early diagnosis
		Visual impairment	T: diabetes mellitus type 2 therapy regimen (including insulin if necessary)
Thrombembolic events	3-fold increased compared to untreated^78,79	Deep venous thrombosis	P: compression hosiery, low-dose heparin, mobilization
		Pulmonary embolism	P: compression hosiery, low-dose heparin, mobilization
		Stroke	T: oral anticoagulants or heparin in therapeutic doses
Immunosuppression	30%–100%	Opportunistic infections	P: regular white blood count
		Wound healing problems	T: prophylactic or therapeutic trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole
		Ulcerations	Antibiotics
		Ulcerations	Antacids
Psychiatric disorders	Up to 60%	Insomnia	P: stay below 40 mg/d prednisone (equivalent)
		Mood disorders	P: stay below 40 mg/d prednisone (equivalent)
		Psychosis	T: neuroleptics, sedatives

Legend to Table 2: P, prophylaxis; T, therapy.

^aupon prolonged use.