Description
Corticosteroids (kor-ti-koe-STER-oyds) (cortisone-like medicines) are used to provide relief for inflamed areas of the body. They lessen swelling, redness, itching, and allergic reactions. They are often used as part of the treatment for a number of different diseases, such as severe allergies or skin problems, asthma, or arthritis. Corticosteroids may also be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor.

Your body naturally produces certain cortisone-like hormones that are necessary to maintain good health. If your body does not produce enough, your doctor may have prescribed this medicine to help make up the difference.

Corticosteroids are very strong medicines. In addition to their helpful effects in treating your medical problem, they have side effects that can be very serious. If your adrenal glands are not producing enough cortisone-like hormones, taking this medicine is not likely to cause problems unless you take too much of it. If you are taking this medicine to treat another medical problem, be sure that you discuss the risks and benefits of this medicine with your doctor.

These medicines are available only with your doctor's prescription, in the following dosage forms:

Oral
Betamethasone
Syrup (U.S.)
Tablets (U.S.)
Effervescent tablets (Canada)
Extended-release tablets
Budesonide
Extended-release capsules (Canada)
Cortisone
Tablets (U.S. and Canada)
Dexamethasone
Elixir (U.S.)
Oral solution (U.S.)
Tablets (U.S. and Canada)
Hydrocortisone
Oral suspension (U.S.)
Tablets (U.S. and Canada)
Methylprednisolone
Tablets (U.S. and Canada)
Prednisolone
Oral solution (U.S. and Canada)
Syrup (U.S.)
Tablets (U.S.)
Prednisone
Oral solution (U.S.)
Syrup (U.S.)
Tablets (U.S. and Canada)
Triamcinolone
Syrup (U.S. and Canada)
Tablets (U.S. and Canada)
Parenteral
Betamethasone
Injection (U.S. and Canada)
Cortisone
Injection (U.S. and Canada)
Dexamethasone
Injection (U.S. and Canada)
Hydrocortisone
Injection (U.S. and Canada)
Methylprednisolone
Injection (U.S. and Canada)
Prednisolone
Injection (U.S.)
Triamcinolone
Injection (U.S. and Canada)

Proper Use of This Medicine
For patients taking this medicine by mouth:

Take this medicine with food to help prevent stomach upset. If stomach upset, burning, or pain continues, check with your doctor.
Stomach problems may be more likely to occur if you drink alcoholic beverages while being treated with this medicine. You should not drink alcoholic beverages while taking this medicine, unless you have first checked with your doctor.
For patients taking budesonide extended-release capsules :

Swallow the capsule whole, without breaking, crushing, or chewing it.

Use this medicine only as directed by your doctor. Do not use more or less of it, do not use it more often, and do not use it for a longer time than your doctor ordered. To do so may increase the chance of side effects.

Dosing - The dose of these medicines will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information gives the range of doses of these medicines for all uses, which can vary widely. The dose that you are receiving may be very different. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The number of capsules, tablets, teaspoonfuls of liquid or amount of injection that you use depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are taking the corticosteroid. In addition, your doctor may need to change the dose from time to time.

For betamethasone
For oral dosage forms:
Syrup, tablets, effervescent tablets:
Adults and teenagersDose may range from 0.25 to 7.2 milligrams (mg) a day, as a single dose or divided into several doses.
ChildrenDose is based on body weight or size and must be determined by your doctor.
Extended-release tablets:
Adults and teenagers2 to 6 mg a day.
ChildrenDose is based on body weight or size and must be determined by your doctor.
For injection dosage form:
Adults and teenagers: Dose may range from 1.2 to 12 mg injected into a joint, lesion, muscle, or vein as often as necessary, as determined by your doctor.
Children: Dose is based on body weight or size and must be determined by your doctor.
For budesonide
For oral dosage form (extended-release capsules):
Adults: At first, the dose is 9 milligrams (mg) a day for up to eight weeks. Then your doctor may decrease the dose to 6 mg a day. Each dose should be taken in the morning before breakfast.
Children: Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
For cortisone
For oral dosage form (tablets):
Adults and teenagers: 25 to 300 milligrams (mg) a day, as a single dose or divided into several doses.
Children: Dose is based on body weight or size and must be determined by your doctor.
For injection dosage form:
Adults and teenagers: 20 to 300 mg a day, injected into a muscle.
Children: Dose is based on body weight or size and must be determined by your doctor.
For dexamethasone
For oral dosage forms (elixir, oral solution, tablets):
Adults and teenagers: 0.5 to 10 milligrams (mg) taken as often as necessary, as determined by your doctor.
Children: Dose is based on body weight or size and must be determined by your doctor.
For injection dosage form:
Adults and teenagers: 0.2 to 40 mg injected into a joint, lesion, muscle, or vein as often as necessary, as determined by your doctor.
Children: Dose is based on body weight or size and must be determined by your doctor.
For hydrocortisone
For oral dosage forms (oral suspension, tablets):
Adults and teenagers: 20 to 800 milligrams (mg) every one or two days, as a single dose or divided into several doses.
Children: Dose is based on body weight or size and must be determined by your doctor.
For injection dosage form:
Adults and teenagers: 5 to 500 mg injected into a joint, lesion, muscle, or vein, or under the skin as often as necessary, as determined by your doctor.
Children: Dose is based on body weight or size and must be determined by your doctor.
For methylprednisolone
For oral dosage form (tablets):
Adults and teenagers: 4 to 160 milligrams (mg) every one or two days, as a single dose or divided into several doses.
Children: Dose is based on body weight or size and must be determined by your doctor.
For injection dosage form:
Adults and teenagers: 4 to 160 mg injected into a joint, lesion, muscle, or vein as often as necessary, as determined by your doctor.
Children: Dose is based on body weight or size and must be determined by your doctor.
For prednisolone
For oral dosage forms (oral solution, syrup, tablets):
Adults and teenagers: 5 to 200 milligrams (mg) taken as often as necessary, as determined by your doctor.
Children: Dose is based on body weight or size and must be determined by your doctor.
For injection dosage form:
Adults and teenagers: 2 to 100 mg injected into a joint, lesion, muscle, or vein as often as necessary, as determined by your doctor.
Children: Dose is based on body weight or size and must be determined by your doctor.
For prednisone
For oral dosage forms (oral solution, syrup, tablets):
Adults and teenagers: 5 to 200 milligrams (mg) every one or two days, as a single dose or divided into several doses.
Children: Dose is based on body weight or size and must be determined by your doctor.
For triamcinolone
For oral dosage forms (syrup, tablets):
Adults and teenagers: 2 to 60 milligrams (mg) a day, as a single dose or divided into several doses.
Children: Dose is based on body weight or size and must be determined by your doctor.
For injection dosage form:
Adults and teenagers: 0.5 to 100 mg injected into a joint, lesion, or muscle, or under the skin as often as necessary, as determined by your doctor.
Children: Dose is based on body weight or size and must be determined by your doctor.

Missed dose - If you miss a dose of this medicine and your dosing schedule is:

One dose every other dayTake the missed dose as soon as possible if you remember it the same morning, then go back to your regular dosing schedule. If you do not remember the missed dose until later, wait and take it the following morning. Then skip a day and start your regular dosing schedule again.
One dose a dayTake the missed dose as soon as possible, then go back to your regular dosing schedule. If you do not remember until the next day, skip the missed dose and do not double the next one.
Several doses a dayTake the missed dose as soon as possible, then go back to your regular dosing schedule. If you do not remember until your next dose is due, double the next dose.
If you have any questions about this, check with your health care professional.

Storage - To store this medicine:

Keep out of the reach of children.
Store away from heat and direct light.
Do not store capsules or tablets in the bathroom, near the kitchen sink, or in other damp places. Heat or moisture may cause the medicine to break down.
Keep the liquid dosage forms of this medicine from freezing.
Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed. Be sure that any discarded medicine is out of the reach of children.

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