What are the side effects of hormone injection and what to do about it?

Because the treatment of certain diseases requires hormone treatment, but if hormone drugs are used for long-term treatment, side effects will often occur, which is very harmful to the health of the body. For example, it is easy to cause metabolic disorders, aggravate infections, induce some diseases of the digestive system, lead to osteoporosis, etc.

1. Metabolic disorders of sugar, protein and fat

Long-term use of hormones can cause centripetal obesity, moon-like facies, hirsutism, weakness, hypokalemia, edema, hypertension, diabetes, etc. These symptoms do not require special treatment and will generally disappear gradually after stopping the medication and return to normal after several months or a longer period of time.

Countermeasures: Pay attention to diet and exercise. You should eat a low-salt, low-fat, low-sugar, high-protein and vitamin-rich diet, and eat more foods that reduce swelling and dampness, such as winter melon, corn, mung bean sprouts, etc. After the condition has improved, you should increase outdoor exercise and do appropriate exercises. You can move your face more and chew gum. It is recommended to wash your face with cold water to help recovery and accelerate the decomposition of fat.

2. Disorders in water and salt metabolism

Long-term use of hormones can easily cause edema, hypokalemia, hypertension, etc. due to water and sodium retention.

Countermeasures: During the period of hormone application, try to reduce salt intake, increase potassium-rich foods such as tangerines, oranges, bananas and other fruits, eat some low-calorie foods such as cucumbers, tomatoes and other fruits, and control the total calorie intake. If necessary, use potassium-sparing diuretics.

3. Induce or aggravate infection

Hormones can suppress the body's immune function. Long-term use can induce or aggravate infection, spread potential infection foci in the body or reactivate dormant infection foci, making people more susceptible to infection, especially those with reduced resistance.

Countermeasures: Before deciding to use long-term hormone therapy, the patient's immune status should be evaluated as a whole, and potential infections such as tuberculosis and hepatitis should be ruled out.

4. Digestive system complications

Hormones can stimulate the secretion of gastric acid and pepsin and inhibit the secretion of gastric mucus, reducing the resistance of gastric mucosa, so they can induce or aggravate peptic ulcers. Hormones can also mask the early symptoms of ulcers, leading to serious complications such as sudden bleeding and perforation, so attention should be paid. Long-term use may aggravate gastric or duodenal ulcers.

Countermeasures: Add protective agents to inhibit gastric acid secretion or protect gastric mucosa.

5. Osteoporosis

Hormones can inhibit osteoblast activity, increase calcium and phosphorus excretion, inhibit intestinal calcium absorption, and increase the sensitivity of bone cells to parathyroid hormone.

Countermeasures: If osteoporosis occurs, minimize the use of hormones. You can supplement active vitamin D and calcium and get more sun exposure.

6. Neuropsychiatric disorders

Hormones can cause many forms of behavioral abnormalities and can also induce epileptic seizures. Behavioral abnormalities include euphoria, nervousness, agitation, insomnia, mood changes, or even overt psychotic symptoms.

Countermeasures: Closely observe after taking the medicine. If mental symptoms occur, antipsychotic drugs can be used for symptomatic treatment. The symptoms will improve on their own after the hormone dosage is reduced.

7. Rebound phenomenon

When hormone drugs are used for a long time and symptoms are basically under control, if the dosage is reduced too quickly or the drug is stopped suddenly, the original symptoms may quickly reappear or worsen. This phenomenon is called rebound phenomenon. This is because the patient has become dependent on hormones or the symptoms have not been completely controlled.

Countermeasures: Resume the hormone dosage, and then slowly reduce the dosage after the symptoms are under control. Do not reduce or stop the medication without authorization.