Steroid Doses in Different Conditions

Derived from cholesterol, steroid drugs are used in a wide variety of diseases of human beings. Steroids were discovered in 1935, and used to treat Addison’s disease initially. However, steroids are used in many different conditions due to their anti-inflammatory and immune-modulating characteristics.

Dose of steroids drugs is different in different medical conditions. Below are some mentioned doses of steroids:

Dose of steroids in the patients with space occupying lesion (SOL):

In the patients with SOL, corticosteroids are usually started before surgery.

Dexamethasone 0.4–1.5 mg/kg/day, 6 hourly is given as it reduces vasogenic cerebral edema due to tumors, inflammation or infection, and has minimal mineralocorticoid activity. Steroids may be harmful in traumatic brain injury, ischemic lesions, subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) and cerebral malaria.

Dose of steroids in the patients with bacterial meningitis:

Dexamethasone 0.4 or 0.6 mg/kg per day in 4 divided doses for 4 days.

Steroid Dose in the patients with tuberculous meningitis:

Intravenous dexamethasone is given for 4 weeks followed by a tapered dose of oral dexamethasone for next 4 weeks.

•        First week: 0.4 mg/kg per day
•        Second week: 0.3 mg/kg per day
•        Third week: 0.2 mg/kg per day
•        Fourth week: 0.1 mg/kg per day
•        Fifth week: 4 mg/day
•        Sixth week: 3 mg/day
•        Seventh week: 2 mg/day
•        Eighth week: 1 mg/day

Keywords: Steroids drugs, Doses, Space occupying lesion, SOL, Bacterial meningitis, Tuberculous meningitis, TBM, Infections