ADAM Health Encyclopedia

Corticosteroids overdose

Definition

This article discusses poisoning from an overdose of corticosteroids, a type of anti-inflammatory medicine.

Poisonous Ingredient

• Alclometasone dipropionate
• Amcinonide
• Augmented betamethasone dipropionate
• Beclomethasone dipropionate
• Betamethasone
• Betamethasone benzoate
• Betamethasone dipropionate
• Betamethasone sodium phosphate
• Betamethasone valerate
• Clobetasol propionate
• Clocortolone pivalate
• Cortisone
• Desonide
• Desoximetasone
• Dexamethasone
• Dexamethasone acetate
• Dexamethasone sodium phosphate
• Diflorasone acetonide
• Diflorasone diacetate
• Flunisolide
• Fluocinolone acetonide
• Fluocinonide
• Fluocinolone acetonide
• Flurandrenolide
• Fluticasone propionate
• Halcinonide
• Halobetasol propionate
• Hydrocortisone
• Hydrocortisone acetate
• Hydrocortisone butyrate
• Hydrocortisone sodium phosphate
• Hydrocortisone valerate
• Methylprednisolone
• Methylprednisolone acetate
• Methylprednisolone sodium succinate
• Mometasone furoate
• Prednisolone acetate
• Prednisolone sodium phosphate
• Prednisolone tebutate
• Prednisone
• Triamcinolone
• Triamcinolone acetonide
• Triamcinolone diacetate
• Triamcinolone hexacetonide

Note: This list may not be all inclusive.

Where Found

• Alclometasone dipropionate (Delonal)
• Augmented betamethasone dipropionate (Deprolene)
• Beclomethasone dipropionate (Diprosone)
• Betamethasone sodium phosphate (Celestone)
• Betamethasone valerate (Valisone)
• Clobetasol propionate (Temovate)
• Clocortolone pivalate (Cloderm)
• Desonide (DesOwen, Tridesilon)
• Desoximetasone (Topicort)
• Dexamethasone (Decadron)
• Fluocinonide (Lidex)
• Flunisolide (AeroBid)
• Fluocinolone acetonide (Synalar)
• Flurandrenolide (Cordran)
• Fluticasone propionate (Cutivate)
• Halcinonide (Halog)
• Hydrocortisone (Cortef)
• Hydrocortisone sodium phosphate (Solu-Cortef)
• Hydrocortisone valerate (Westcort)
• Methylprednisolone (Medrol)
• Methylprednisolone sodium succinate (Solu-Medrol)
• Mometasone furoate (Elocon)
• Prednisolone sodium phosphate (Pred Fonte)
• Prednisone (Deltasone)
• Triamcinolone acetonide (Aristocort)

Note: This list may not be all inclusive.

Symptoms

• Swelling in lower legs, ankles, or feet
• Nervousness
• Sleepiness
• Depression
• Discontinuation of the menstrual cycles
• Weakness
• Worsening of disease state such as ulcers, diabetes
• Deafness
• Itching skin
• Burning skin
• Dry skin
• Hypertension (high blood pressure)
• Convulsions
• Muscle weakness
• Psychosis

Before Calling Emergency

Determine the following information:

• The patient's age, weight, and condition
• The name of the product (ingredients and strengths if known)
• When it was swallowed
• The amount swallowed

The National Poison Control Center (1-800-222-1222) can be called from anywhere in the United States. This national hotline number will let you talk to experts in poisoning. They will give you further instructions.

This is a free and confidential service. All local poison control centers in the U.S. use this national number. You should call if you have any questions about poisoning or poison prevention. It does NOT need to be an emergency. You can call for any reason, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Take the container with you to the hospital, if possible.

See: National Poison Control center.

What to Expect at the Emergency Room

Some or all of the following procedures may be performed:

• Treatment of symptoms
• Pumping the stomach (gastric lavage)
• Giving activated charcoal
• Monitoring vital signs ( including blood pressure and pulse)

Outlook (Prognosis)

One-time ingestion of a corticosteroid product is usually benign, requiring no therapy. Most symptoms are associated with long-term therapeutic use of these drugs.