Steroids

With the term Steroids Nowadays the association doping often appears, triggered by the much-discussed abuse of artificial steroids in competitive sports. However, it is often unknown that these substances also occur naturally in the body, the best-known steroid being cholesterol.

What are steroids?

Natural Steroids can be found in animals, plants and fungi in addition to the human organism. They perform many different biochemical tasks such as vitamins, sex hormones such as estrogens in women and androgens in men, bile acids or poisons. In humans and animals, the body produces important proteins and steroid hormones from the steroid cholesterol. Another endogenous steroid is cortisol, which belongs to the group of glucocorticoids.

Besides the natural there are the man-made steroids. These include the anabolic steroids, which are used to build muscle and are similar to the male sex hormone testosterone. These steroids have become known as illicit doping agents. Other artificial steroids are used for medicinal purposes in the form of synthetic hormones, such as hydrocortisone or progesterone.

Pharmacological effect

Without the use of artificial ones Steroids, especially the glucocorticoids (i.e., cortisone preparations), many diseases today could not be effectively treated or cured. Every synthetically produced steroid has a different effect on the body and organs, which is much stronger than that of the corresponding natural steroid thanks to the much higher dose.

Cortisone preparations are z. B. used for anti-inflammatory purposes. In the case of allergic rhinitis or asthma, they lead to swelling of the mucous membranes and have an antispasmodic effect. They are also used in the event of an impending premature birth to promote the maturation of the baby's lungs.

When applied to the skin, these steroids also develop anti-inflammatory effects in eczema or allergic reactions. "Smart" steroids try to treat only the surface of the skin without affecting deeper layers.

Medical application & use

Synthetically produced glucocorticoids are used for medical purposes in a variety of immune diseases and in acute emergencies. They can be used to treat diseases such as asthma, epilepsy], skin diseases such as neurodermatitis or eczema, multiple sclerosis, Crohn's disease, rheumatic diseases or some types of cancer such as leukemia and multiple myeloma.

Steroids are also used when the body does not produce enough vital glucocorticoids on its own. Even after organ transplants, steroids are of great importance. These preparations are administered both as injection, in the form of tablets and inhalation, and for topical application in the form of ointments. In order to avoid too high and therefore dangerous dosages, the correct dose must be determined individually. The decisive factors for this are the severity of the disease, the patient's response to the steroid and the planned duration of treatment.

While a high-dose short therapy with steroids in tablet form can also be ended abruptly, with long-term treatment the therapy must be ended very gradually "gradually" and under constant medical supervision in order to avoid serious side effects. The aim is to disturb the body's own glucocorticoid production as little as possible. Here an "alternating" therapy has proven to be particularly successful, in which the steroid is only taken in double doses every 2nd day.

Risks & side effects

Steroids in the form of glucocorticoids can have a variety of side effects. Depending on the strength and place of application, long-term use of cortisone applied to the skin for weeks or months can lead to skin degradation (atrophy) and delayed wound healing.

With long-term "systemic" (ie not local) use, further risks can arise. This can lead to an increase in blood sugar and water storage in the tissue, which in turn means an increase in weight. The immune system can be weakened and stomach ulcers can develop. There is also a risk that diabetes mellitus or osteoporosis will develop or, if already present, these conditions will be made worse by steroids.

The preparations can further increase the risk of thrombosis. Therefore, steroids should only be used as long-term therapy under strict medical supervision.