Clinical Indications and Abuse of Corticosteroids: A Narrative Review

Corticosteroids are lifesaving drugs; however, their abuse has been noted in general population. The objectives of the review were to highlight the adverse effects after prolonged use and abuse of corticosteroids. The review covers the period of 2000-2023. After extracting information from over 76...

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Main Authors: Sheikh Abdul Khaliq, Sabeen Naz, Faryal Farid, Anab Fatima
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Liaquat National Hospital and Medical College 2025-02-01
Series:Liaquat National Journal of Primary Care
Subjects:
Online Access:https://journals.lnh.edu.pk/lnjpc/pdf/b2247ae0-9c67-4013-b6c9-ac2dcdd414d5.pdf
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author Sheikh Abdul Khaliq
Sabeen Naz
Faryal Farid
Anab Fatima
author_facet Sheikh Abdul Khaliq
Sabeen Naz
Faryal Farid
Anab Fatima
author_sort Sheikh Abdul Khaliq
collection DOAJ
description Corticosteroids are lifesaving drugs; however, their abuse has been noted in general population. The objectives of the review were to highlight the adverse effects after prolonged use and abuse of corticosteroids. The review covers the period of 2000-2023. After extracting information from over 76 articles and evaluating their quality, data was presented as PRISMA diagram. The main adverse effects appear after abuse or prolonged use of corticosteroids are immune suppression, osteoporosis, weight gain, stunted growth in children, glucose intolerance, hypertrichosis, acne, telangiectiasis, hypertension, mood disorder, rosacea, peri-oral dermatitis, fibrosis of renal, cardiac and vascular cells, hormonal-disturbances, cataract, glaucoma and prolong use in COVID-19 patients enhanced the mortality. Mostly corticosteroids were used as a fairness cream for a long time without medical supervision. Despite corticosteroids’ clinical benefits, their abuse as fairness cream is not justified. Therefore, the general public has to be educated about the adverse effects associated with corticosteroid prolongation and abuse. A coordinated strategy is required among patients, physicians and pharmacists to stop the mistreatment of topical corticosteroids.
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publishDate 2025-02-01
publisher Liaquat National Hospital and Medical College
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series Liaquat National Journal of Primary Care
spelling doaj-art-4e4efcab94714c14baa840738de917f02025-08-20T03:11:24ZengLiaquat National Hospital and Medical CollegeLiaquat National Journal of Primary Care2707-35212708-91342025-02-0171596410.37184/lnjpc.2707-3521.7.1Clinical Indications and Abuse of Corticosteroids: A Narrative ReviewSheikh Abdul Khaliq0Sabeen Naz1Faryal Farid2Anab Fatima3Department of Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy, Hamdard University, Karachi, PakistanDepartment of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Hamdard University, Karachi, Pakistan Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Hamdard University, Karachi, Pakistan Dow College of Pharmacy, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, PakistanCorticosteroids are lifesaving drugs; however, their abuse has been noted in general population. The objectives of the review were to highlight the adverse effects after prolonged use and abuse of corticosteroids. The review covers the period of 2000-2023. After extracting information from over 76 articles and evaluating their quality, data was presented as PRISMA diagram. The main adverse effects appear after abuse or prolonged use of corticosteroids are immune suppression, osteoporosis, weight gain, stunted growth in children, glucose intolerance, hypertrichosis, acne, telangiectiasis, hypertension, mood disorder, rosacea, peri-oral dermatitis, fibrosis of renal, cardiac and vascular cells, hormonal-disturbances, cataract, glaucoma and prolong use in COVID-19 patients enhanced the mortality. Mostly corticosteroids were used as a fairness cream for a long time without medical supervision. Despite corticosteroids’ clinical benefits, their abuse as fairness cream is not justified. Therefore, the general public has to be educated about the adverse effects associated with corticosteroid prolongation and abuse. A coordinated strategy is required among patients, physicians and pharmacists to stop the mistreatment of topical corticosteroids.https://journals.lnh.edu.pk/lnjpc/pdf/b2247ae0-9c67-4013-b6c9-ac2dcdd414d5.pdfcorticosteroidsabuseadverse effectsawarenesslegitimate indication.
spellingShingle Sheikh Abdul Khaliq
Sabeen Naz
Faryal Farid
Anab Fatima
Clinical Indications and Abuse of Corticosteroids: A Narrative Review
Liaquat National Journal of Primary Care
corticosteroids
abuse
adverse effects
awareness
legitimate indication.
title Clinical Indications and Abuse of Corticosteroids: A Narrative Review
title_full Clinical Indications and Abuse of Corticosteroids: A Narrative Review
title_fullStr Clinical Indications and Abuse of Corticosteroids: A Narrative Review
title_full_unstemmed Clinical Indications and Abuse of Corticosteroids: A Narrative Review
title_short Clinical Indications and Abuse of Corticosteroids: A Narrative Review
title_sort clinical indications and abuse of corticosteroids a narrative review
topic corticosteroids
abuse
adverse effects
awareness
legitimate indication.
url https://journals.lnh.edu.pk/lnjpc/pdf/b2247ae0-9c67-4013-b6c9-ac2dcdd414d5.pdf
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AT faryalfarid clinicalindicationsandabuseofcorticosteroidsanarrativereview
AT anabfatima clinicalindicationsandabuseofcorticosteroidsanarrativereview