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POSSIBLE SIDE
EFFECTS
These include changes in
appearance (such as acne or increased facial hair); development of a
round or moon-shaped face; thin, fragile skin that bruises easily;
or movement of body fat to the trunk. You might also experience mood
changes, personality changes, irritability, agitation, or
depression.
Other possible side
effects include increased appetite and weight gain, poor wound
healing, headache, glaucoma, irregular menstrual periods, peptic
ulcer, muscle weakness, osteoporosis, steroid-induced diabetes, and
osteonecrosis (damage to the hip joint that leads to severe
arthritis).
PRECAUTIONS
Because corticosteroids
cross the placenta, they are used cautiously during pregnancy. The
drugs appear in breast milk, so if you are taking large doses, you
should not breastfeed.
Avoid exposure to
infections. Stay away from crowds and people known to have colds,
the flu, or other infections.
Schedule regular vision
checkups and report any problems with your vision to your doctor or
nurse.
Talk with a registered
dietitian to find out how to prevent excess weight gain and minimize
certain drug effects on the body.
Do not take this drug
with other drugs, including over-the-counter medications, without
first checking with your nurse or doctor. Over-the-counter that you
can get without a doctor’s prescription.
Tell any nurse, doctor,
or dentist who is taking care of you that you are taking
corticosteroids for your lupus.
WARNINGS!
Do not take this drug if
you have ever had an allergic reaction to it.
Carry medical
identification and wear a bracelet to alert medical personnel that
you take a corticosteroid.
NEVER MISS A DOSE.
Take this drug exactly as ordered.
IF YOU DO MISS A DOSE,
call your nurse or doctor immediately to find out when you should
take the missed dose.
NEVER STOP THE
MEDICATION SUDDENLY. Your adrenal glands, which are located just
above your kidneys, normally make corticosteroids in small amounts.
These corticosteroids are important for many body functions. When
you take corticosteroid medication, your body begins to make much
less than usual, or even stops completely. If you suddenly stop
taking your medication, you may have a problem because your adrenal
glands won’t have had time to make the corticosteroids you need.
This problem is called “adrenal insufficiency.”
Signs of adrenal
insufficiency include weakness, fatigue, fever, weight loss,
vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. If you experience any of
these problems, call your nurse or doctor immediately.
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