Corticosteroids overdose

Definition

Corticosteroids are a type of anti-inflammatory medicine. Corticosteroid overdose occurs when someone accidentally or intentionally takes more than the normal or recommended amount of this medication.

Corticosteroids come in many forms, including:

• Creams and ointments that are applied to the skin
• Inhaled forms that are breathed into the nose or lungs
• Pills or liquids that are swallowed
• Injected formulas delivered to the skin, joints, muscles, or veins

Most corticosteroid overdoses occur with pills and liquids.

This is for information only and not for use in the treatment or management of an actual poison exposure. If you have an exposure, you should call your local emergency number (such as 911) or the National Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222.

Alternative Names

Poisonous Ingredient

• Alclometasone dipropionate
• Amcinonide
• Augmented betamethasone dipropionate
• Beclomethasone dipropionate
• Betamethasone
• Betamethasone benzoate
• Betamethasone dipropionate
• Betamethasone sodium phosphate
• Betamethasone valerate
• Clobetasol propionate
• Clocortolone pivalate
• Cortisone
• Desonide
• Desoximetasone
• Dexamethasone
• Dexamethasone acetate
• Dexamethasone sodium phosphate
• Diflorasone acetonide
• Diflorasone diacetate
• Flunisolide
• Fluocinolone acetonide
• Fluocinonide
• Fluocinolone acetonide
• Flurandrenolide
• Fluticasone propionate
• Halcinonide
• Halobetasol propionate
• Hydrocortisone
• Hydrocortisone acetate
• Hydrocortisone butyrate
• Hydrocortisone sodium phosphate
• Hydrocortisone valerate
• Methylprednisolone
• Methylprednisolone acetate
• Methylprednisolone sodium succinate
• Mometasone furoate
• Prednisolone acetate
• Prednisolone sodium phosphate
• Prednisolone tebutate
• Prednisone
• Triamcinolone
• Triamcinolone acetonide
• Triamcinolone diacetate
• Triamcinolone hexacetonide

Note: This list may not be all inclusive.

Where Found

• Alclometasone dipropionate (Delonal)
• Augmented betamethasone dipropionate (Deprolene)
• Beclomethasone dipropionate (Diprosone)
• Betamethasone sodium phosphate (Celestone)
• Betamethasone valerate (Valisone)
• Clobetasol propionate (Temovate)
• Clocortolone pivalate (Cloderm)
• Desonide (DesOwen, Tridesilon)
• Desoximetasone (Topicort)
• Dexamethasone (Decadron)
• Fluocinonide (Lidex)
• Flunisolide (AeroBid)
• Fluocinolone acetonide (Synalar)
• Flurandrenolide (Cordran)
• Fluticasone propionate (Cutivate)
• Halcinonide (Halog)
• Hydrocortisone (Cortef)
• Hydrocortisone sodium phosphate (Solu-Cortef)
• Hydrocortisone valerate (Westcort)
• Methylprednisolone (Medrol)
• Methylprednisolone sodium succinate (Solu-Medrol)
• Mometasone furoate (Elocon)
• Prednisolone sodium phosphate (Pred Fonte)
• Prednisone (Deltasone)
• Triamcinolone acetonide (Aristocort)

Note: This list may not be all inclusive.

Symptoms

Symptoms of corticosteroid overdose can include:

• Burning or itching skin
• Convulsions
• Deafness
• Depression
• Dry skin
• High blood pressure
• Muscle weakness
• Nervousness
• Psychosis
• Sleepiness
• Stopping of menstrual cycle
• Swelling in lower legs, ankles, or feet
• Weakness
• Worsening of health conditions such as ulcers, diabetes

Home Treatment

Before Calling Emergency

Determine the following information:

• Patient's age, weight, and condition (for example, is the person awake or alert?)
• Name of the product (ingredients and strengths, if known)
• Time it was swallowed
• Amount swallowed

However, DO NOT delay calling for help if this information is not immediately available.

Poison Control, or a local emergency number

The National Poison Control Center (1-800-222-1222) can be called from anywhere in the United States. This national hotline number will let you talk to experts in poisoning. They will give you further instructions.

This is a free and confidential service. All local poison control centers in the United States use this national number. You should call if you have any questions about poisoning or poison prevention. It does NOT need to be an emergency. You can call for any reason, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

See: Poison control center - emergency number

What to expect at the emergency room

The health care provider will measure and monitor the patient's vital signs, including temperature, pulse, breathing rate, and blood pressure. Symptoms will be treated as appropriate. The patient may receive:

• Activated charcoal
• EKG
• Fluids through a vein (by IV)
• Laxative
• Medications to treat fluid and electrolyte changes
• Tube through the mouth into the stomach to wash out the stomach (gastric lavage)

Expectations (prognosis)

Most cases of corticosteroid overdose result in relatively minor fluid and electrolyte changes. If the problem is severe enough to cause heart rhythm disturbances, the outlook may be more grave.

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References

Nikkanen HE, Shannon MW. Endocrine toxicology. In: Shannon MW, Borron SW, Burns MJ, eds. Haddad and Winchester's Clinical Management of Poisoning and Drug Overdose. 4th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 16.