Mumbai:(waraq-e-taza online)-Steroids are Man-made drugs which resemble Cortisol, a hormone that your adrenal gland produces. They work by decreasing inflammation and pain associated with heightened immune response. This is a class of so-called “miracle drugs” that’s used in almost all fields of medicine, but particularly exercise their golden touch in dermatology, rheumatology and ophthalmology.Some of the indications of steroids are very prevalent and known by all. For example, steroid-containing creams, eye drops, injections and tablets are used in Psoriasis , vitiligo , asthma , atopic, eczema , rheumatoid arthritis, conjunctivitis etc. Many brands like panderm , quadridum , betnovate C , wysolone, omnacortil , predmert , momate etc. are familiar and popular. The lack of knowledge and awareness about steroids is a potentially dangerous phenomenon, especially because if used in a casual and careless manner, steroids can cause many deleterious side effects. Including weight gain, swelling of the face, acne, hirsutism, weakening of bones , glaucoma , cataract, diabetes and hypertension .Steroids are classified according to their potency; the higher the potency, the faster and more effective the cure. In turn irrational use of these high potency drugs will eventually lead to disastrous side-effects. Casual self-medication and non-adherence of patients to the prescribed drug regimen is a highly prevalent problem.
Students of Seth G S Medical College, Mumbai performed a research study at the grassroots.In the pursuit, to include every stakeholder involved and their role in fuelling the fire, namely patients, common people, physicians and pharmacists.
Out of 226 patients who were themselves on steroids , Only 23% patients had heard about steroids. 23% of them did not know that their medication contained steroids.
Similarly , Out of a total of 404 the common public, a significant 83% people had never heard about steroids. Of those who had, 90% only knew them as anabolic steroids, the kind that is used by body-builders to increase their muscle mass. Of the meager 1.05% who knew about corticosteroids, 50% were unaware of the common ADRs.
The situation gets even more perilous because of the illegal and unvigilant sale of potent schedule H steroids over the counter, without a prescription. Any person can consume a large quantity of steroids without any restrictions for years together.
Out of a total of 61 pharmacists we studied, 92% said that they never sell steroids as OTC. But using a novel method called simulated client technique, we caught a whopping 83.6% red-handed giving them without prescription. To top it off, 95% said that their role is to communicate prescription only. None mentioned any of their other important responsibilities.Patients and pharmacists aside, some doctors too are responsible for the problem either due to a wrong prescription, or failure to communicate with the patient effectively.Out of a total of 37 physicians who agreed to participate in our study 82% saw >30 patients in a 3 hours OPD. Thus the time spent per patient was a grossly inadequate mere 5 minutes. It is imperative for every stakeholder to realise that steroids should be used judiciously as and when required, only upon appropriate prescription by a certified physician, with the proper instructions given, understood and duly followed and never advised casually to people or self-medicated. Let us all be enlightened and enlighten others, unite in this fight against irrational use. More material regarding knowledge and awareness is available under various social media handles of our movement FIST; Fighting Irrational Steroid Treatment.