Medicine pack check sheet

Source-linked reading points

• Corticosteroids suppress immune function and increase viral, bacterial, fungal and parasitic infection risk, and may mask some infection signs. Fever, breathing difficulty, altered awareness, marked weakness, shingles/chickenpox/measles exposure or rapid deterioration needs prompt treating-team review and emergency care when severe.
• After continuous or longer use, abrupt withdrawal can cause adrenal insufficiency or withdrawal problems. Do not abruptly stop, alternate days or copy an online taper because symptoms improve, glucose or pressure changes, or the pack is nearly empty. Missed, extra or interrupted use requires review of the exact prescription.
• Older adults and people with several medicines require priority review of glucose, blood pressure, oedema/sodium/potassium, osteoporosis/fracture, muscle weakness, gastrointestinal bleeding, eye pressure/cataract, mood/sleep or awareness changes and falls. One laboratory value or symptom cannot let the site decide continuation, reduction or stopping.
• An NSAID pain medicine, anticoagulant/antiplatelet, diuretic, digoxin, glucose-lowering medicine, ciclosporin, selected anti-infectives or a vaccine on the same list requires professional review. Live vaccines have an important boundary during immunosuppressive dosing; do not invent spacing, add a stomach medicine or remove a pack yourself.