Steroid therapy is the use of steroid medications, also recognized as corticosteroids, to treat many types of autoimmune illness, like myasthenia gravis, lupus, and multiple sclerosis, and other disorders, such as asthma. Steroid drugs include things like drugs like prednisone and cortisone. Corticosteroids can be prescribed to be taken orally or in other ways, such as by inhalation.

According to Western medicine, steroid drugs are medically essential to treat a lot of situations and illnesses. It is vital not only to follow the recommendations of your healthcare qualified concerning steroid use, if you have decided steroid therapy is correct for you, but also to explore other health-related selections if you have second thoughts about steroid drugs.

Is steroid therapy proper for you?

Steroid drugs have significant effects on the metabolism of calcium and bone. Steroid therapy can outcome in severe bone loss, osteoporosis, and broken bones. Higher dosage of steroid drugs can lead to speedy bone loss, up to as a lot as 15 % per year. If you are on steroids, you are more than twice as probably to have a spine fracture as compared to a person not taking steroids. Fracture risk increases as the each day doses of steroid medicines increases. The key impact of steroid medication on bone is fractures (broken bones) that take place most normally in the spine and ribs. There are various rates of bone loss amongst folks on corticosteroids. Bone loss happens most rapidly in the initial six months just after starting oral steroid drugs. Just after 12 months of chronic steroid use, there is a slower loss of bone. Nevertheless, it ought to be described that not all sufferers who take steroid medications expertise bone loss.

Other adverse side effects of steroid medications are elevation of blood pressure, weight get, decreased resistance to infection, indigestion, thinning of skin, and potential improvement of cataracts and glaucoma.

Let me relate my own encounter with steroid therapy.

I was diagnosed with myasthenia gravis various years ago. Myasthenia gravis is a chronic autoimmune neuromuscular illness characterized by varying degrees of weakness of the skeletal (voluntary) muscle tissues of the body. Anabolika Shop of the disease is muscle weakness, which increases through periods of activity and anxiety, but improves just after periods of rest and calm. Specific muscle tissues, such as those that control eyes and eyelid movements, facial expression, speaking, chewing and swallowing are generally involved in this disorder. In addition, the muscle tissues that manage breathing, neck, and limb movements might also be impacted.

Due to myasthenia gravis, I had created ocular symptoms, such as ptosis (drooping of eyelids) and diplopia (double vision), and weak neck and limb muscle tissues. Fortunately, I did not have weakness of the pharynx muscles, which could cause difficulty in chewing and swallowing, as effectively as slurred speech in many circumstances of myasthenia gravis.

I was prescribed steroid drugs and had been on a steroid therapy for three years. In addition, I was also offered drugs to deal with bone loss and other side adverse effects related with the use of steroids.

In my case, there was some improvement, but not important adequate to make me make a decision to continue the steroid therapy just after three years of treatment. I had to balance the dangers of steroids and the symptoms of myasthenia gravis.

My rude awakening came when I realized that my immune program, which was the trigger of the disease in the initially spot, is not only an integrated network of cells that would shield me in instances of an infection, but also a program with several regulatory mechanisms that, if uncontrolled, would come to be my enemy instead of my friend. More importantly, these steroids may well handle the symptoms of myasthenia gravis, but they may possibly also impair my immune technique with lasting effects on my all round health and wellness additional down the road.

I recognized that the human body has a organic mechanism for self-healing, if offered the appropriate atmosphere. Accordingly, I took matters into my hands, and made a drastic selection to quit my steroid therapy without the need of consulting my doctor (Warning: I do not ask anyone to do the similar.) I stopped the medication quite gradually and gradually. Meanwhile, I did anything to improve my immune technique by means of a thorough detoxification program, and a transform of diet program. I did not obtain weight, my blood pressure became regular and, most significant of all, my myasthenia gravis conditions did not deteriorate. Up to this day, I nonetheless have some double vision, which I have learned to cope with (I can nevertheless drive), but my other symptoms have disappeared. I have been off steroid therapy for extra than one particular decade already.

Hippocrates, the father of medicine, after said: “No man is a greater doctor than himself, who knows his personal constitution.” No one can make a decision for you what is most effective for your wellness. A medical professional can only give guidance, but you are the one particular who makes the selection on no matter if steroid therapy is appropriate for you. Listen to your body.