About
Cortico-
steroids
Your doctor has prescribed a corticosteroid for you. The medicine may be cortisone (Cortone), prednisone (Deltasone or Orasone), or prednisolone (Cortalone). This medicine will relieve your symptoms.
Follow
instructions exactly
Take your medicine exactly as your doc-tor directs. Take it on time,
and never change the dose or stop taking it without first checking with
your doctor. Suddenly stopping this medicine could trigger a crisis.
Report side effects
- Call your doctor if you vomit your medicine, if your pulse beats irregularly, if you get a bad headache, or if you have swollen feet or lower legs.
- Call him if you feel weak, depressed, giddy, dizzy, or excessively tired or thirsty.
- Contact him if you urinate a lot more than usual, lose weight unexplainably, or have diarrhoea or indigestion. Report these symptoms at once: bloody or tarry black stools, vomit that looks like coffee grounds, and bone pains.
- Weigh yourself daily and call the doc-tor if you gain 5 or more pounds in a week. Don't be alarmed if you notice in-creased fat on your face and trunk. And don't be surprised if you have acne.
Avoid injury and infection
- Try to avoid falls and other accidents because cuts and scrapes heal more slowly while you take this medicine.
- Ward off infection by avoiding people with colds or other contagious diseases.
Watch your diet
- Take your medicine with food, milk, or an antacid. Also avoid caffeine, alcohol, tobacco, and aspirin.
- Eat foods containing enough protein, vitamins, and calcium to prevent weakened bones. Ask your doctor for guide-lines.
- If your doctor recommends a high-potassium, low-sodium diet, choose potassium-rich leafy vegetables, avocados, citrus fruits, bananas, and whole grains. Avoid sodium-rich foods, including packaged snacks, bouillon, sauces, luncheon meats, and cheeses.
Ask about other drugs
Check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any other drugs (including non-prescription drugs or vitamins and minerals). Tell all your doctors, your dentist, and the pharmacist that you're taking a corticosteroid.
Special instructions
- Call your doctor if your symptoms get worse or if you develop an infection, injure yourself, or need surgery.
- Memorize the name and the dose of your medicine. Always carry it with you. Never pack it in luggage.
- Wear medical identification that names your condition and states you take a corticosteroid.
- See your doctor regularly.
