How are corticosteroids used?

Corticosteroid medicines treat rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, asthma, allergies and many other conditions. They also help prevent organ rejection in people who have a donor organ. They do that by lowering immune system response.

Corticosteroids also treat Addison's disease. This is a rare condition that happens when the adrenal glands don't make enough natural corticosteroid.

You can take corticosteroids in several ways, depending on the condition being treated:

• By mouth. Tablets, capsules or syrups help treat swelling and irritation, called inflammation, and pain linked with certain long-term conditions. These include autoimmune conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus.
• By inhaler and intranasal spray. Breathing in corticosteroids or putting them into the nose helps manage swelling and irritation linked with asthma and nasal allergies.
• As eye drops. This form treats conditions linked to eye swelling and irritation, such as uveitis.
• On the skin, called topical. Creams and ointments can help heal many skin conditions.
• By shot, also called injection. This form often treats muscle and joint symptoms, such as the pain and inflammation of tendinitis or arthritis.
• Through a vein, called intravenous. This mainly is for people in a hospital who need fast treatment of swelling and irritation. For instance, someone with lupus whose kidneys are failing may get corticosteroids through a vein.