Corticosteroids
Medication class detail with safety cues and nursing action focus.
Corticosteroids
Examples: prednisone, methylprednisolone, fluticasone, hydrocortisone
Mechanism
Suppresses inflammation and immune activity; systemic use affects glucose, infection risk, and adrenal response.
Used for
- Asthma/COPD inflammation
- Autoimmune flares
- Adrenal support
- Skin inflammation
Side effects
- Hyperglycemia
- Infection risk
- Fluid retention
- Mood change
- Skin thinning with topical overuse
Nursing actions
- Monitor glucose, infection signs, and GI protection needs.
- Teach not to stop long-term systemic steroids abruptly.
- For inhaled steroids, rinse mouth to reduce thrush risk.
Hold / question cues
- Untreated systemic infection concern
- Severe hyperglycemia per order
- Adrenal crisis symptoms after abrupt stop
Antidote / reversal
- No routine class-specific antidote or reversal agent is seeded for this class; hold/question unsafe doses, support ABCs, notify the provider, and use facility or poison-control guidance for toxicity.
NCLEX pearl
- Steroids cool inflammation but can hide infection and raise sugar.
Individual drug cards
Inhaled steroids prevent inflammation; they do not rescue acute bronchospasm.
Steroid inhalers require mouth rinsing.
Steroids reduce inflammation but can mask infection.
Related study cards
Shows conditions, glossary terms, Drive entities, and source-linked cards connected to this medication class.
Inhaled steroids prevent inflammation; they do not rescue acute bronchospasm.
Steroid inhalers require mouth rinsing.
Steroids reduce inflammation but can mask infection.
Low BP, low sodium, high potassium.
Silent chest is worse than wheezing.
Barrel chest, pursed lips, chronic productive cough.
Skip lesions, fistulas, right lower quadrant pain.
Barking cough and inspiratory stridor.