Similarly, to protect against cataract formation, your doctor may recommend you shield your eyes from ultraviolet light exposure as much as possible, usually by wearing sunglasses.

You may want to connect with others who have gotten Cushing's from steroids. You can do so on the Exogenous or Iatrogenic (Steroid Induced) Cushing's Syndrome Message Board

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Drug-induced Cushing's (secondary adrenocortical insufficiency) may be minimized by gradual reduction of dosage. This type of relative insufficiency may persist for months after discontinuation of therapy; therefore, in any situation of stress occurring during that period, hormone therapy should be reinstituted.

It is important not to discontinue cortisone drugs on your own. When reduction in dosage is possible, the reduction should be gradual and requires moderation by your physician.

For more practical information about Steroid Induced Cushing's, or to ask how other patients are coping with the effects of Prednisone, Flovent and other cortisones, visit the Exogenous or Iatrogenic (Steroid Induced) Cushing's Syndrome Message Board

• Hypertension
• Skin Atrophy (Wasting Away)
• Myopathy (Muscle Disease/Weakness)
• Impaired Wound Healing
• Post Traumatic (After-Shock) Stress (Anxiety, Fear)
• Suppression (Lowering) of Immune Response (Defense Of Body Against Virus, Bacteria)
• Subcutaneous (Under Skin) Tissue Atrophy (Decrease)
• Skin Infections
• Depression
• Hair Loss
• Excessive Facial Hair Growth
• Ingrown Hairs
• Arthritis
• Coronary Artery Disease
• Osteoporosis
• Contact Dermatitis
• Acne, Eczema
• Cysts, Rashes
• Lesions, Blisters
• Open-Angled Glaucoma
• Cataracts
• Menstrual Irregularities
• Premature Menopause
• Secondary Diabetes Mellitus
• Sleep Disorders
• Water Retention
• Growth Retardation In Children
• Cushing's Syndrome (Affects Almost Every System In The Body; Moonface, Humpback, Central Obesity And Other Symptoms).
  • The facial mooning may be minimized by restricted calorie intake.
  • Weight gain: Restrict calorie intake; may require a change in steroid medication: may require a diuretic.
  • Edema: May require diuretics and potassium.
  • Potassium loss: Use potassium supplement.
  • Acne: Treat with topical medications.
  • Urinary frequency and nocturia: Check for evidence of genitourinary infection or diabetes mellitus; urinalysis
  • Insomnia, headache, fatigue, euphoria. Treat symptomatically.
• Steroid Induced Asthma
• Headaches
• Shakiness And Tremors
• Easy Bruising
• Necrosis (A Localized Death Of Tissue)
• Increase Susceptibility To Infection
• Redistribution Of Body Fat
• Increase In Circulating Blood Fats (Triglycerides)
• Muscle Cramping, Joint Pain

The most important is to talk to your doctor about reducing the dose. But never suddenly stop steroids on your own -- you can go into adrenal failure and die. The goal is to taper off the steroids very slowly.

If you have asthma, chronic lung disease, or rheumatoid arthritis, you may need the steroids just to breathe or walk. Even so, Cushing's specialists say, you may be able to reduce the dose. And some asthma patients can switch from oral steroids to the inhaled form, which is not absorbed as readily throughout the body.

If you have rheumatoid arthritis, you may be able to taper off some steroids by taking other medications, such as colloidal gold, Plaquenil, Feldene and methotrexate.

For osteoporosis, it may help to take 1,500 to 2,000 milligrams a day of calcium, and 400 International Units of vitamin D. You might also consider taking prescription drugs such as estrogen and Fosamax.

Another strategy is to take steroids only every other day, so you don't suppress all your own cortisol production. And if you take steroids just once a day, take them at 8 a.m., when your body would normally be making cortisol.

Some day, there may be better drugs that damp down the inflammatory response without so many side effects.

Until then, if you have symptoms that stump your regular doctors, consider seeing a hormone specialist, says Michael Conn, president of the Bethesda, Md.-based Endocrine Society.

From The Boston Globe

Also, visit the Steroid-induced Cushing's Syndrome Message Board for more information.

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• Immune system suppression
• Loss of muscle tone
• Accumulation of body fat
• Depression and anxiety. Initially, however cortisol can produce a short term euphoric effect
• Increased permeability and fragility of the linings of blood vessels
• Loss of bone mass, leading to osteoporosis
• Damage to the hippocampus, a brain area associated with memory