Steroids are also called corticosteroids, which are anti-inflammatory medicines used to treat a range of conditions. These are a man-made version of hormones normally produced by the adrenal glands, two small glands found above the kidneys.
They’re different from the anabolic steroids used by athletes and body builders to improve their performance.
Steroids can be used to treat a wide range of conditions, including:
- Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- Hay fever
- Hives and eczema
- Painful joints or muscles – such as arthritis, tennis elbow andfrozen shoulder
- Pain caused by an irritated or trapped nerve – such as sciatica
- Inflammatory bowel disease – such as Crohn’s disease
- Lupus
- Multiple sclerosis (MS)
