'Roid Rage

Nearly every Crohn's or Ulcerative Colitis patient has, at some point, been prescribed steroid medication. And nearly every Crohn's or UC patient will tell you, it's the necessary evil.

This class of medications, known as anti-inflammatories, cortico-steroids, or just steroids, is commonly prescribed to help calm down inflamed intestines. Crohn's and UC's most common symptom is inflammation of the lining of the intestines, and it can cause severe pain, cramping, bleeding, and can also indicate infection. The steroid medications work very quickly to reduce this inflammation, thus reducing the pain, bleeding, and discomfort. The most common steroid medications used for Crohn's and Colitis are Prednisone, Methylprednisolone, and Prednisolone. They all come in various brand names and strengths, but typically produce the same results.

When I was first diagnosed with Crohn's in 2002, I was prescribed 80mg per day of Prednisone. 80mg is a LOT of steroid power. Within one day, I was feeling better, was able to eat regular foods, and had regained some of the long-lost confidence I had in myself.

After about a week of being on 80mg of Prednisone, I started to notice I was putting on weight, which, at the time was a good thing. I had lost over 20 pounds too suddenly before the diagnosis, and needed to gain some of it back. I also noticed my face getting fuller, which at first, I thought was because of the weight gain.

I was wrong.

Prednisone and other steroids come with a myriad of side-effects. "Chipmunk cheeks" is a very common side-effect, and over time, seriously makes you appear to have a mouth full of food. How or why this happens, I do not know (and I'm too lazy to Google it at the moment). But it happens to so many users of Prednisone, that it's almost become an inside joke - thus the silly picture above.

In addition to puffy cheeks, steroids come with a seemingly endless list of other side effects. The longer you take the steroids, the more side effects you'll likely experience. In fact, long-term use of steroid medication is highly discouraged by most doctors, because after awhile, the risks of the drug outweigh the benefits.

Since I seem to love making lists (see my previous posts), here is a list of the most common side effects of steroid medications:

• Aggression / irritability / anxiety
• Water retention
• Fast, slow, or irregular heartbeat/pulse
• Headaches
• Pounding in the ears
• Swollen fingers, hands, legs, and feet
• Breathing difficulty
• Blurry vision
• Dry mouth
• Heartburn / indigestion
• Increased hunger/appetite and thirst
• Insomnia
• Increased blood pressure
• Nervousness
• Inability to concentrate
• Loss of sexual ability
• Delayed healing of wounds
• Swollen cheeks or neck
• Worsening acne
• Thinning hair
• Dry scalp
• Irregular menstrual cycle (in females)
• Food intolerance (dairy, gluten, etc.)
• Yeast infections and/or thrush
• Uncontrollable shaking or tremors

Long-term steroid use can cause:

• Osteoporosis or loss in bone density
• Depression
• Chronic bronchial problems, shortness of breath
• Spinal pain and vertebral compression fractures
• Thinning of skin
• Hyperhydrosis (sweating too much)
• Muscle wasting (decreased muscle mass)
• Hyperglycemia and glucose intolerance (with symptoms similar to diabetes)
• Hallucinations
• Violent behavior
• Hypothyroidism
• Congestive heart failure
• Stomach ulcers 
• Pancreatitis

(Please note: THESE LISTS ARE NOT ALL-INCLUSIVE. Report your possible side-effects to your doctor, or directly to the FDA in the United States, or to your local drug regulation body.) 

Because the side-effects can be serious and life-threatening (and annoying), most doctors will eventually prescribe a different type of long-term medication to help control Crohn's Disease or Colitis. There are several different classes of medications for Crohns and Colitis, some of which I will cover in future posts.

As if this nightmare of steroid side-effects isn't horrifying enough, suddenly stopping your intake of steroid medications can also have serious effects. It's almost always prescribed that patients slowly "wean" off of steroids, to avoid having the same, or worse side effects listed above. This weaning process can last for weeks or months, depending on your dose and condition.

As I said before, steroids do work very well for most Crohnies and UC sufferers. They work quickly and effectively, and it's often a huge relief just to feel better. But I highly recommend getting off of them before you develop a seething love/hate relationship with them, like I have!

What was your steroid use like? Feel free to share in the comments! By the way, comments can now be left anonymously! Just choose "Anonymous" from the drop-down box next to 'Comment As.' As always, remember to share this blog with anyone you think might be interested!