Cortisol is a topical synthetic steroid that is used as a cream or ointment to treat skin disorders such as severe itching, rashes and swelling. Side effects of cortisol use depend on the amount of skin covered by the ointment and the overall health of the individual, and include severe skin reactions, complications with existing chronic illnesses and interactions with other medications, which may be life threatening. Consider these facts from Drugs.com about the effects of cortisol medication.
Skin
Cortisol may cause toxic effects on the skin such as severe blisters that contain blood or pus, infection of the hair follicles and development of lesions on the skin.
Infections
People who have ongoing skin infections can experience worsening of their symptoms by taking cortisol, which may result in life threatening complications.
Vision
Cortisol can cause serious eye infections and advance the progress of eye diseases such as glaucoma and cataracts.
Blood Pressure
A sudden, unexpected increase in blood pressure is an effect of cortisol that can lead to serious complications in the heart, which may be life threatening.
Diabetes Complications
Using cortisol for a long period of time can cause people with type 2 diabetes to have an uncontrollable increase in glucose levels in their blood and urine, which is toxic to the body.
Tuberculosis Complications
People who have active tuberculosis infections can become sicker if using cortisol, and people with inactive infections may experience a reactivation of their illness.
Drug Interactions
Cortisol interacts with other medications such as barbituates used for treating seizures, such as phenobarbital and anticoagulants used for heart conditions, such as warfarin, which can lead to life threatening complications.
Tags: life threatening, Cortisol cause, effects cortisol, infections experience, life threatening complications