The adrenal glands in the child will usually develop normally after birth. I started on 12 tablets for 10 days and since then it has been reduced with 2 tablets every week. Currenly I am on 4 per day. The only other side effects I know of is the bloating of the body which has not really happened to me - I do however have a large appitite since starting on this drug. The pain in my hands and feet is all but gone.
Steroids are incredible drugs for certain diseases.
They are powerful anti-inflammatories and often are the only drugs available in certain diseases. We would use them more commonly if the side effects weren't so troubling. The longer the steroids are used and the higher the dose the more the long term side effects. These side effects are to basically speed up the aging process. The eyes develop cataracts, bones develop osteoporosis and fracture, arteries develop hardening at a faster rate, serum glucose levels rise and often lead to diabetes mellitus, muscles weaken and atrophy.