Introduction to Corticosteroids
- Classes of corticosteroids: cortisol, cortisone, corticosterone, aldosterone
- Effects of glucocorticoids: carbohydrate, fat, and protein metabolism, anti-inflammatory, immunosuppressive, anti-proliferative, vasoconstrictive
- Effects of mineralocorticoids: regulation of electrolyte and water balance
- Medical uses: treatment of various conditions, synthetic pharmaceutical drugs with corticosteroid-like effects, different types of corticosteroids

Pharmacology and Pharmacogenetics of Corticosteroids
- Corticosteroids act as agonists of the glucocorticoid receptor and/or the mineralocorticoid receptor
- Some corticosteroids may have progestogenic activity and produce sex-related side effects
- Patients' response to inhaled corticosteroids may be influenced by genetic variations in genes such as CHRH1 and TBX21
- Not all asthma patients respond to corticosteroids and some are corticosteroid resistant
- Using the control inhaler as needed may work as effectively as daily use in improving asthma control and reducing corticosteroid medicine intake

Adverse Effects and Risks of Corticosteroids
- Severe amoebic colitis, neuropsychiatric effects, cardiovascular effects
- Metabolic effects: redistribution of body fat, muscle wasting, hyperglycemia, diabetes mellitus
- Long-term use: steroid-induced osteoporosis, decreased height in children with asthma
- Gastrointestinal effects: colitis, peptic ulceration
- Chronic use: cataract, glaucoma

Uses and Benefits of Corticosteroids
- Treatment of optic neuritis
- Suppression of immune reactions for allergies
- Management of inflammation and swelling
- Relief of symptoms in conditions like asthma, arthritis, and dermatitis
- Supportive therapy for certain types of cancer

Administration and Precautions of Corticosteroids
- Routes of administration: topical, inhaled, oral, systemic, combination therapy
- Side effects: increased vulnerability to infections, teratogenic effects, potential for topical steroid addiction, short-term use in children
- Contraindications: active infections, uncontrolled high blood pressure, recent vaccination with live vaccines, pregnancy, hypersensitivity
- Administration methods: oral tablets or capsules, inhalers, topical creams or ointments, injections, eye drops or ointments
- Precautions and monitoring: regular monitoring of blood pressure, blood sugar levels, bone density, gradual tapering of doses, lowest effective dose, avoiding sudden discontinuation, close monitoring for adverse effects

Corticosteroid (Wikipedia)

Corticosteroids are a class of steroid hormones that are produced in the adrenal cortex of vertebrates, as well as the synthetic analogues of these hormones. Two main classes of corticosteroids, glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoids, are involved in a wide range of physiological processes, including stress response, immune response, and regulation of inflammation, carbohydrate metabolism, protein catabolism, blood electrolyte levels, and behavior.

Corticosteroid
Drug class
Cortisol (hydrocortisone), a corticosteroid with both glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid activity and effects.
Class identifiers
Synonyms	Corticoid
Use	Various
ATC code	H02
Biological target	Glucocorticoid receptor, Mineralocorticoid receptor
Chemical class	Steroids
Legal status
In Wikidata

Some common naturally occurring steroid hormones are cortisol (C
₂₁H
₃₀O
₅), corticosterone (C
₂₁H
₃₀O
₄), cortisone (C
₂₁H
₂₈O
₅) and aldosterone (C
₂₁H
₂₈O
₅) (cortisone and aldosterone are isomers). The main corticosteroids produced by the adrenal cortex are cortisol and aldosterone.