Short acting- Cortisone, Hydrocortisone
	
		Intermediate acting - Prednisolone, Triamcinolone, Methylprednisolone
	
		Long acting- Dexamethasone, Betamethasone
	
		Refer- Dexamethasone
	
		 
	
		Interacting drugs - summary
	
		 
	
		 +Corticosteroids
	
		 
	
		Aminoglutethimide  +  dexamethosone 
	
		 possible loss of dexamethosone-induced adrenal  suppression            
	
		 
	
		Barbiturates 
	
		decreased pharmacolgic effects of the corticosteroids metabolism 
	
		 through the induction of hepatic microsomal enzymes
	
		 
	
		Cholestyramine +Hydrocortisone
	
		 hydrocortisine AUC decreased
	
		 
	
		Contraceptives Oral 
	
		 Hepatic metabolism  decreased by OCs, resulting in
	
		  increased therapeutic effects or toxicity
	
		 
	
		Ephedrine  + Dexamethasone
	
		 a decreased half-life and increased clearance of dexamethsone
	
		 may occur
	
		 
	
		Estrogens  
	
		   estrogen coadministration reduce the clearance and 
	
		   increase the elimination half-life of corticosteroids
	
		 
	
		Hydantoins   
	
		   corticosteroids clearance  decreased and the AUC increased
	
		   resulting in reduced therapeutic effects
	
		 
	
		Ketoconazole
	
		  corticosteroid clearance decreased and the AUC increased                          
	
		 
	
		Macrolide Antibiotics + Methyl prednisolone    
	
		  significant decrease in methylprednisolone clearance has been used 
	
		  to decrease methylprednisolone dose          
	
		 
	
		Rifampicin 
	
		corticosteroid clearance increased resulting in decreased 
	
		therapeutic effects
	
		 
	
		Corticosteroids +
	
		 
	
		Anticholinesterases  
	
		 anticholinesterase effect  antagonised in myasthenia gravis
	
		 
	
		Anticoagulants oral   
	
		  anticoagulant dose requirements  reduced. Conversely, 
	
		   corticosteroids may oppose the anticoagulant action.
	
		 
	
		Cyclosporine   
	
		   although this combination is therapeutically beneficial for organ 
	
		   transplant,  toxicity may be enhanced
	
		 
	
		Digitalis glycosides  
	
		   coadministratin enhance the possibility ofdigitalis toxicity 
	
		   associated with hypokalemia
	
		 
	
		Isoniazid
	
		  isoniazid serum concentration  decreased
	
		 
	
		Nondepolarising muscle relaxants
	
		corticosteroids potentiate, counteract or have no effect on the
	
		 neuromuscular blocking action
	
		 
	
		Poatssium depleting agents eg.diuretics    
	
		 observe patients for hypokalemia
	
		 
	
		Salicylates
	
		  corticosteroids will reduce serum salicylate levels and  decrease
	
		  their  effectiveness
	
		 
	
		Somatrem   
	
		 growth-promoting effect of somatrem  inhibited
	
		             
	
		Theophyllines
	
		  alterations in the pharmacologic activity of either agent occur