1, infection: Because it can inhibit the body's response to inflammation, the body's ability to resist infection is reduced. Therefore, superficial or slight infection may evolve into systemic infection, and static infection may turn into active infection, which may cause the migration and spread of purulent lesions, tuberculosis and other potential lesions. Therefore, we should pay attention to the prevention of infection, carefully observe the condition, reduce the dosage and stop taking drugs in time when necessary, and be sure to use drugs in combination when acute infection and poisoning occur.
2. Posture changes: Many patients receiving hormone therapy may have posture changes, which will affect their spirit and mood. Because long-term use of hormones can redistribute fat, patients may have posture changes such as full moon face, buffalo back, trunk obesity, skinny limbs, centripetal obesity, acne, hirsutism, purple skin, etc., which may affect their appearance.
3. Diabetes: Hormones can increase liver glycogen, supplement blood sugar and induce diabetes. When using glucocorticoid in large quantities, we should pay attention to the changes of blood sugar and urine sugar. If hyperglycemia occurs, hypoglycemic drugs and insulin treatment should be given when necessary. However, with the decrease of hormone dosage, the dosage of hypoglycemic agents or insulin can be reduced.
4. Osteoporosis: Hormones can decalcify bones and turn them into osteoporosis. Osteoporosis refers to the reduction of bone mass per unit volume, just like building a house reduces the amount of steel bars and is easy to cause fractures. Aseptic osteonecrosis, especially femoral head necrosis, is also a common complication, but its pathogenesis may be femoral head necrosis caused by blood circulation disorder and capillary inflammation of femoral head, which is also called aseptic necrosis of femoral head because it is not caused by bacterial infection. Therefore, patients who use hormones for a long time must make regular bone mineral density measurements to be aware of it. At the same time, taking vitamins and calcium preparations at the same time as taking hormones can reduce the decrease of bone mass caused by corticosteroids and prevent osteoporosis. Proper physical exercise can promote bone blood circulation and metabolism, and help to prevent osteoporosis and femoral head necrosis. Calcium supplementation is a long-term task, and patients must persist and persevere in order to achieve better curative effect.
5, peptic ulcer: hormones can stimulate gastric acid, pepsin secretion, too much digestive juice can often cause gastritis, gastric and duodenal ulcers, and even perforation and bleeding. If patients have digestive tract symptoms, they should be taken together with antacids when taking hormones to protect the gastric mucosa from damage. Ranitidine, Chen Bailu and others. Commonly used in clinic, it can be used as a synergistic drug for oral hormone drugs.
6. Electrolyte disorder and hypertension: Hormones can cause water and sodium retention and edema. Many patients have hypertension. Due to the increase of potassium excretion, patients often have low potassium. For patients with congestive heart failure or obvious peripheral edema, hormones with little influence on water and salt metabolism should be selected, and the electrolyte balance of patients should be checked regularly. Hormone drugs are often used to treat patients with hypertension, especially lupus nephropathy. At this time, on the one hand, we should minimize the dosage of hormones, on the other hand, we should use antihypertensive drugs appropriately, such as propranolol and captopril. Although some antihypertensive drugs may have side effects on lupus constitution, they still need to be used decisively after weighing the pros and cons.
7. Others: When a large number of corticosteroids are used, patients may obviously appear excitement, irritability, euphoria, mental irritability, insomnia, depression or psychosis. When a large number of corticosteroids are used for a long time, muscle weakness, muscle atrophy, even myositis, elevated intraocular pressure, even glaucoma and cortical gland dysfunction may occur. Irregular menstruation and even amenorrhea are also common.