If Steroids are anti-inflammatory why do people taking them swell up?

Answer 1

The key point here is one of what the human body uses its own natural steroids for vs when the medical profession uses steroids for.

The medical profession:

Steroids are pretty well the most powerful anti-inflammatory drugs available. When used as medicines they act as powerful modulators of immune system functioning. This allows them to not only greatly ease inflammation, but also effectively treat autoimmune diseases (which explains why steroid creams work very well in eczema, and oral steroids are used in conditions such as severe asthma, giant cell arteritis, flare-ups of rheumatoid arthritis, and the like).

The human body uses steroids in two different ways - Glucocorticoid effects, and Mineralocorticoid effects.

Glucocorticoid effects:

These are immunomodulatory effects, and is also the human body's response to chronic stress. it has multiple effects of the metabolism, including increased production of glucose, and also affects how the body lays down fat. They also have a role in control of the sleep/wake cycle and some studies suggest that there is a role in the regulation of mood.

Mineralocorticoid effects:

The human body achieves this through a hormone called aldosterone. This substance is produced in response to a reduced quantity of fluid in the circulation. The effect here is to cause the kidneys to retain sodium ions and, as a result of this, water is retained by osmotic forces too.

Therefore:

When steroids are used for treatment of an autoimmune condition (the mineralocorticoid effect is used in the treatment of conditions such as pituitary failure, but this is vanishingly rare), it is the glucocorticoid effect that is desired. In order to get a therapeutic effect however, the dose of steroid is required to be many times higher than the normal steroid levels in the human body.

Most artificial steroid drugs used by the medical profession (for instance prednisone in the US and prednisolone in the UK), have a predominantly glucocorticoid action, but there is some crossover into mineralocorticoid effects owing to the high levels of steroid used, so the side-effects are what you might expect:

Glucocortocoid:

- Gaining weight.
- Body fat shift to around the trunk, and on the back.
- A swollen face (due to laying down of fat).
- Sometimes, insomnia.
- Sometimes, mood disturbances including, occasionally, psychosis ("'roid rage").

Mineralocorticoid:

- Retention of sodium leading to increased fluid in the circulation which leads to swelling. This tends to occur in areas which are low down (gravity has an effect), so mainly swollen ankles and feet.

So, to summarise:

- Steroids are anti-imnflammatory, but they over-stimulate the body's own regulation systems, and this causes the swelling effects. However, they are powerful and useful medications, and whilst they cause many side-effects, they are used to treat potentially serious conditions - therefore anyone concerned about the side-effects should seek advice from their Doctor. Suddenly stopping steroid treatment can be dangerous in itself.

As an aside: Due to the concerns about steroid side-effects, many immunomodulator drugs are coming onto the market, including steroid-free eczema creams, and new medications for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, and asthma.

Answer 2

Steroids can have an anti-inflammatory effect, causing swelling to relax and hence shrink in bruises, lung bronchiole and other parts of the body.

But in the long term steroids act to increase muscle growth, so while the bump on your arm might go down in the short term, in the long term your arm will build up more muscles and grow bigger.

If steroids cause something to swell up really big, really quickly you are probably having an allergic reaction!

Answer 3

Corticosteroids are not anabolic steroids. Corticosteroids are anti-inflammatory. Decadron is popular. I am not a big fan of drugs. If you have an infection, antibiotics might be good. If you have pain, an analgesic maybe one such as a NSAID or vicodin ES. Your body can take of swelling in time.

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Answer 4

I THINK that steroids aren't anti-inflammatory, but some anti-inflammatories contain steroids. And its down to the patient having a bad reaction to the other ingredients that are in them. Its one of those stupid things, headache tablets can give you headaches as a side effect!

Answer 5

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