• Treat pre-existing comorbid conditions that may increase risk of GC-associated AEs |
• Prescribe lowest effective GC dose for minimum period of time required to achieve treatment goals |
• Administer as single daily dose (given in the morning), if possible |
• Consider intermittent or alternate-day dosing, if possible |
• Use GC-sparing agents whenever possible (e.g., omalizumab in severe asthma, azathioprine/cyclophosphamide in vasculitis, methotrexate in rheumatoid arthritis) |
• Advise patients to: |
▪ Carry a steroid treatment card |
▪ Seek medical attention if they experience mood or behavioural changes |
▪ Avoid contact with persons that have infections, such as shingles, chickenpox, or measles (unless they are immune) |
▪ Not discontinue GC therapy abruptly unless advised to do so by their physician |
▪ Adopt lifestyle recommendations to minimize the risk of weight gain or other AEs: |
▫ Eat a healthy balanced diet, including adequate calcium intake |
▫ Smoking cessation |
▫ Reduction in alcohol consumption |
▫ Regular physical activity |
• Regularly monitor for signs/symptoms of AEs |