Dr. Le Bach Lan, head of the General Internal Medicine Department at Trưng Vương Emergency Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City, warns that the current misuse of corticosteroids in treatment is alarming.
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| Dr. Le Bach Lan examining patient Tran Thi Re (Photo: L.TH.H) |
Prolonged use of corticosteroids can lead to irreversible adrenal gland failure – the organ that secretes the body’s natural corticosteroids – along with many other dangerous side effects.
Dr. Bach Lan noted that on June 8, the department had a patient, Tran Thi Re (76 years old, Cu Chi, Ho Chi Minh City), who exhibited clear signs of side effects caused by corticosteroids: a “moon face” due to salt and water retention, while her limbs appeared emaciated and shriveled.
Dr. Bach Lan stated that corticosteroids are essential in medicine, but they must be used under strict indications, closely monitored, and gradually tapered off; they should not be used for extended periods. Corticosteroids have excellent anti-inflammatory effects and are used to treat arthritis that does not respond to other medications, as well as ENT conditions, asthma, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Additionally, corticosteroids are used for immunosuppression, lupus erythematosus, and hematological disorders.
Dr. Le Bach Lan advises that when patients are ill, it is best to visit a hospital for examination. They should not go to a pharmacy or grocery store to buy medication for self-treatment. When a doctor prescribes medication, patients should return for follow-up as scheduled and should not reuse old prescriptions. |
Dr. Bach Lan warns that the misuse of corticosteroids in treatment is very concerning. This is due to some patients – especially in suburban areas – suffering from chronic pain, arthritis, asthma, etc., who self-medicate by going to pharmacies or even grocery stores to buy medications. Salespeople, lacking expertise, still sell corticosteroids. Buyers perceive corticosteroids as a “wonder drug”, experiencing an immediate “euphoria” upon taking them, prompting further purchases.
Moreover, many patients mistakenly do not return for follow-up appointments but take their previous prescriptions to buy medication again. Some patients often visit “folk healers” to purchase herbal medicines of unclear origin, believing that these medicines relieve their pain, improve their appetite, help them sleep, and increase their weight, all without realizing that these products may contain corticosteroids.
Dr. Bach Lan stated that each month, the general internal medicine department sees 5-6 patients showing symptoms of corticosteroid abuse, identifiable by certain external signs such as a puffy, round, red face, an overweight body but with thin, shriveled limbs, as well as stretch marks and subcutaneous hemorrhages on the skin.
Additionally, there are several other dangerous side effects, such as causing high blood pressure, diabetes, and pathological osteoporosis (where even a minor bump can result in a fracture), as well as reducing the body’s immune resistance, making patients susceptible to severe infections that antibiotics cannot treat.
The hospital also frequently encounters patients suffering from a “corticosteroid withdrawal syndrome,” characterized by severe vomiting, diarrhea, and loss of appetite. Generally, just three weeks of prolonged use of this medication can lead to dependence. In some cases, patients cannot “withdraw” from corticosteroids and must use them for a lifetime.
LE THANH HA reported
