10 Common Prescription Drugs That Can Damage Your Eyes

As a GP, I often see people worried about taking steroids for their lung condition. Firstly, I reassure them that we always prescribe the lowest dose needed for their condition. Most steroid inhalers have low doses of steroid medicine in them anyway. These groups of drugs includes ibuprofen, diclofenac (voltarol) indomethacin, celecoxib and etoricoxib.

• Over a longer period of time cyclophosphamide can cause infertility in both men and women.
• Steroids are taken in different ways, and the dosage may vary depending on the condition you have.
• If you’re taking steroid tablets continuously you should be under the care of a respiratory specialist.
• However, if you are concerned about any conflicts of information, please discuss with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

Anti-coagulants, such as heparin, warfarin, coumadin and anisindione, are prescribed to prevent blood from clotting or to break up clots already formed in veins, arteries or lungs. They are commonly known as blood thinners, though they don’t actually thin the blood. This retinal damage is generally reversible if caught early so it’s essential that, if you’re taking this medication long term, you inform your optician and keep on top of regular eye checks. There’s much speculation over the side effects of major prescription drugs can have on our eyes.

About corticosteroids

Sometimes steroids can cause another condition known as Cushing’s syndrome. This can cause thinning of the skin, stretch marks, and the face to become rounder, but it usually clears up once steroids are stopped. Steroid treatment can stop the body producing natural hormones, which can be dangerous if you get ill, have an accident or need an operation.

• A single course can consist of two to four injections usually over a hour period.
• This should be a short course to deal with symptoms, and once you’ve finished the course, your doctor will advise you how to safely stop taking them.
• Glaucoma is the build-up of pressure within the eye, which can lead to vision loss if left untreated.
• Please take time to read the patient information leaflet that comes with your medicine.
• But, your medical team will discuss this with you based on your prognosis.

Regular exercise, especially things that involve your bones carrying the weight of your body, such as walking, can also help to reduce the risk of getting osteoporosis. Because steroids can cause you to put on weight or have an increased appetite, it’s important to keep an eye on your weight while taking them. Making sensible food choices and including some physical activity in your daily routine should help you avoid putting on weight. This page is about steroids that can be taken as tablets, liquids, creams and eye drops and ointments.

Steroid cards

Chickenpox is of particular concern since this normally minor illness may be fatal in immunosuppressed patients. Patients without a definite history of chickenpox should be advised to avoid close personal contact with chickenpox or herpes https://canadian-pharmacya.com zoster and if exposed they should seek urgent medical attention. If the patient is a child parents must be given the above advice. If a diagnosis of chickenpox is confirmed, the illness warrants specialist care and urgent treatment.

Corticosteroids can sometimes interact with a type of medication known as protease inhibitors (like ritonavir). Corticosteroids can decrease the effectiveness of medications used to treat diabetes. It’s sometimes necessary for steroid tablets to be taken for longer periods. In these cases, you may be more likely to develop troublesome side effects.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs

If appropriate, patients may be prescribed
bisphosphonates, calcium or vitamin D to protect their bones. Patients
may also be prescribed tablets to protect the stomach from side effects
(eg. Ranitidine, Lansoprazole, Omeprazole or similar). Steroids affect your child’s immune system, so they shouldn’t have any ‘live’ vaccines if they’re receiving a high dose of injected or oral steroids. But it’s important they’re up to date with other vaccines beforehand to avoid catching one of the diseases that vaccination prevents.

Cox 2 inhibitors (See Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs)

Oestrogens and other oral contraceptives may potentiate the effects of glucocorticoids and dosage adjustments may be required if oral contraceptives are added to or withdrawn from a stable dosage regimen. You should make every effort to remember to take your steroids when you’re required to. Your doctor may advise carrying it for up to a year after your steroid treatment has ended. “I put on seven stone, became depressed and didn’t want to go out.

No long-term harm has been shown although there have been no large studies. The benefits of steroids in twin and triplet pregnancies are less certain, but it is still recommended that should be offered steroids if you are likely to give birth early. Whilst being widely accepted and safe to take, antihistamines commonly cause dry eyes. This is because they are designed to dry the mucous in your nose which, in turn, dries other mucous membranes such as those in your eye.