Introduction
Drugs containing the active ingredient cortisone are used in a wide range of areas and for a variety of diseases. Cortisone is used particularly in the course of organ transplantation, joint and skin diseases.
Fields of application
Cortisone tablets can be used wherever inflammatory reactions are to be slowed down. For many diseases a local therapy with ointments, nasal sprays etc. is not sufficient and the cortisone must be given systemically, i.e. distributed throughout the body. Disease patterns which make it necessary to take cortisone tablets, for example: In addition, cortisone tablets can be taken in the case of hypofunction of the adrenal gland or pituitary gland. – Transplants
- Acute worsening of COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
- Severe asthma level 4
- Rheumatic diseases
- Chronic inflammatory bowel diseases, such as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis
- Multiple sclerosis
- Autoimmune diseases
- Severe allergic reactions, e.g. after wasp bites, taking medication, hay fever
- Meningitis
- Severe forms of neurodermatitis
Dosage and method of use
Cortisone tablets can be given either as a short-term therapy for acute attacks of certain diseases such as Crohn’s disease or as a long-term therapy with regular intake, for example to prevent organ rejection after transplantation. Often the active substance prednisone or prednisolone is used instead of the actual cortisone. Cortisone tablets (e.g. prednisolone) are usually taken during or directly after meals.
The tablets must be swallowed whole and with sufficient liquid, preferably water. – In short-term therapy in the context of an acute inflammation, a high dosage is administered at the beginning, which is reduced further and further over time until it is finally eliminated completely. – In long-term therapy, the lowest possible effective dose is chosen, as prolonged treatment with cortisone always brings certain side effects.
Fields of application of cortisone tablets
Neurodermatitis is a skin disease that leads to dry, itchy eczema of the skin. The eczema is mainly located on the flexed sides of the arms and legs. However, they can also affect other parts of the body.
For the treatment of neurodermatitis, various drugs are available for external and internal treatment. Mild forms of the disease are only treated externally, with ointments or creams. This also includes treatment with ointments containing cortisone.
Such ointments or creams are only intended for short-term use in relapses as they lead to thinning of the skin (atrophy) when used over a long period of time. Systemic medication is prescribed for severe forms of the disease. Cortisone tablets can also be used.
However, they are also only suitable for short-term therapy and can lead to a rapid improvement of the condition in very severe relapses. Prednisolone is the active substance of choice. About 4% of the population suffer from chronic tinnitus.
The annoying ringing in the ears can have not only physical consequences, such as a lack of sleep, but also psychological stress and even depression. Therefore, tinnitus should be treated as early as possible to prevent its chronicity. Ultimately, there are very few treatment options for tinnitus.
If the cause cannot be remedied or is unknown, the possibilities are very limited. Cortisone tablets and cortisone infusions are among the possible treatment options. Treatment with cortisone is particularly useful in acute tinnitus.
The exact effect of the tablets on tinnitus is not known. Anti-inflammatory and immunological factors are discussed. More recommendable than a therapy with cortisone tablets, however, is a therapy via the vein with cortisone infusions.
They are more effective than tablets in the case of tinnitus. Regardless of whether the therapy is given as an infusion or in tablet form, it is started with a high dose and then reduced from day to day. The duration of the therapy is approximately 10 days.
Cortisone tablets are not used to treat pimples. A regular intake of cortisone tablets or the application of cortisone ointments and creams can even lead to acne. Colloquially this is also called steroid acne.
Typically the pimples appear on the back and shoulders, less frequently on the face. Cortisone therapy against pimples is therefore not recommended. However, cortisone tablets are used to treat many other skin changes, rashes and eczema.
Bronchial asthma is treated with inhaled glucocorticoids. Cortisone tablets do not belong to the step-by-step therapy of asthma. Inhaled glucocorticoids, however, are effective and are used in the long-term therapy of asthma.
They are initially administered in low doses. If the therapy is not successful, the dose can be increased. Important active substances are budesonide and beclomethasone.
Bursitis is treated with painkillers such as diclofenac and ibuprofen. Treatment with cortisone tablets is not usually planned. However, it can be done if the bursitis has occurred on the bottom of another disease, for example rheumatism.
The cortisone tablets then primarily treat the underlying disease and not the bursitis. A herniated disc can become a very stressful event for those affected. Pain, sensory disturbances up to paralysis are the possible consequences.
However, most herniated disks do not need to be treated surgically. Only in cases of paralysis is surgery unavoidable. Treatment also includes glucocorticoids, but not in the form of tablets.
They are injected together with local anaesthetics (local anaesthetics) under X-ray control directly into the vicinity of the affected nerve root. This is a purely symptomatic therapy, which should relieve the pain and inflammation in the area of the herniated disc. Cortisone tablets are used for the treatment of various skin rashes.
Especially in high dosages they are very effective against some autoimmune skin diseases. These include blistering diseases such as pemphigus vulgaris or bullous pemphigoid. There are also many other skin diseases which are treated with cortisone tablets, such as neurodermatitis.
However, cortisone tablets are not suitable for the permanent treatment of skin diseases but are only used for a short period of time. Eczema of various kinds can also be treated with cortisone tablets if external treatment with ointments or creams does not bring the desired success. In the case of multiple sclerosis, thrust therapy is carried out with a glucocorticoid called methylprednisolone.
This is a highly effective glucocorticoid that is intended to stop the inflammatory activity in the relapse of MS. It is not given in tablet form at the beginning of the relapse, but via the vein in a dosage of 500 to 1000 mg per day. This therapy must be administered through the vein for 3 to 5 days. After that, the methylprednisolone is released in the form of tablets in increasingly lower doses to prevent complications such as adrenal cortex insufficiency or an Addison’s crisis.
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