ljdickey@watmath.UUCP (08/29/83)
I was surprised about the cortisone suggestion for treatment of poison ivy. Does anybody know anything GOOD about cortisone? All that I had heard has been bad... hair falling out, for instance. -- Lee Dickey (ljdickey@watmath.UUCP) ...!allegra!watmath!ljdickey ...!ucbvax/decvax!watmath!ljdickey University of Waterloo
ardis@wivax.UUCP (08/30/83)
Yes, cortisone works wonderfully for inflammations like poison ivy. I contracted a bad case of poison oak, once, and used two forms of cortisone: cream on the rash and prednisone internally. (My doctor was worried about systemic reaction, as the rash was around my eyes.) The itching went away within a few minutes, while the rash took a few days to clear up. Cortisone is a pretty strong drug to mess with. It has mood-altering properties (my colleagues thought I was pretty wierd for awhile) and changes the body's natural balance of antihystamines. So, when I foolishly stopped taking the prednisone after the rash left, I immediately broke out all over my body. You have to taper-off gradually, so that your body can readjust the balance. The cream does not change your body chemistry so drastically. If your case is severe, see a doctor and ask about the cream. There are several side effects which you should consider.
dyer@wivax.UUCP (08/31/83)
Cortisone's side-effects generally become dangerous when it is used for a long period of time: thinning of bones causing fractures, peptic ulcer, "moonface" or chipmunk-like appearance due to redistribution of body fat, and increased susceptibility to infections. When used for a short time such as in a reaction to poison ivy, these do not become manifest, so unless there are specific contraindications it's a fairly safe and effective, though nonetheless powerful drug.
lynnef@teklabs.UUCP (08/31/83)
There are some VERY good uses for cortisone. There is a genetic defect
called adrenogenital syndrome in which the affected person does not
make cortisone. There are several levels of this syndrome, from the
affected person only having to take cortisone at times of stress, to the
affected person having to take cortisone all their lives, and having to
figure out when to increase the dose because of stress. The blood chemistry
(serum sodium and potassium) is all screwed up, and the cortisone regulates
this. It is just recently that they came out with a drug that does the
regulation nicely so that the affected person does not have to eat a high
salt content diet.
--
Lynne Fitzsimmons
USENET: {aat, cbosg, decvax, harpo, ihnss, orstcs
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CSNet: lynnef@tek
ARPAnet: lynnef.tek@rand-relaywelsch@houxu.UUCP (08/31/83)
Cortisone is generally helpfull treating allergies. The problem with cortisone as with most steriods is that the body builds up a tolerance and one need greater quantities to achieve the affect. Larry Welsch houxu!welsch
jmg@houxk.UUCP (08/31/83)
Cortisone also softens the bones and can cause a hump to appear on your back after long use. It has many bad side effects and should only be used under the close supervison of a doctor. J. McGhee
ljdickey@watmath.UUCP (09/01/83)
Well, it looks like I probably had a wrong impression of cortisone. I had a young friend in the late 50's who had some very bad side effects. One of them was that she did not survive... But here are three testimonials that speak for themselves. -------- Our mutual friend, xxx, had a cortisone treatment for poison ivy several years ago. It worked, when nothing else did. -------- Cortisone bad???? The only time cortisone is bad is if you are so ill that cortisone injections are the only solution that will keep you alive! Cortisone is the thing that makes topical pain relievers such as Cortaid work. With absolutely no side effects. If you need cortisone injections the side effects are weight gain (sometimes very extreme) and growth of hair, especially legs, arms, and moustache. The last can be a real problem for some women who are embarassed by that. I have never heard of loss of hair from cortisone, but given the type of effects it has on the body, I would believe it was possible. Topical applications of cortisone-based products to burns, poison ivy, bites, etc. would not cause any of these effects. -------- Well, I was on a cortisone variant (Prednisone) for considerable parts of the period 1958-1969, when I had glomerulonephrosis (also called nephritis, but not to be confused with Bright's disease which is rather commoner and ALSO also called nephritis). I am informed that the disease would probably have been fatal if I had been born a few years earlier before cortisone had been (a) available (b) thought of in this connection. I've never been told about or noticed any side effects, unless my schedule of puberty was altered (but I don't think it was, at least much; anyway I was mostly off the drug by then as another drug plus puberty apparently ended the disease) I was also prescribed a cortisone variant (Fluorone) to be applied topically to a skin rash a few weeks ago. It cleared it up in a few days. -- Lee Dickey (ljdickey@watmath.UUCP) ...!allegra!watmath!ljdickey ...!ucbvax/decvax!watmath!ljdickey University of Waterloo
fmb@whuxlb.UUCP (Brooks F.) (09/02/83)
I know that cortisone can be a very powerful drug when used under a doctor's supervision. HOWEVER, it really can have some nasty side effects. In the mid-sixties my father developed a strange rheumatoid condition for which the doctor prescribed large doses of cortisone. It did help immensely with the rheumatoid condition, but it also triggered a quite serious case of glaucoma. There had been a history of glaucoma in my father's family, so he probably would have gotten it eventually, but he got it when he was much younger than he would have otherwise. Meanwhile, I've been told I should never use cortisone unless it's absolutely necessary. If your family has a history of glaucoma, make sure you talk to your doctor before taking any cortisone based drugs! Fredrica Brooks BTL Whippany whuxlb!fmb