A new study found some vets have been taking a lot more cortisone shots than doctors expected.
Researchers at Vanderbilt University Medical Center found the average dose for a vet was 6.4 mg a day, while the average in the general population was 5.4.
The average dose in the study was nearly twice as much as in a general population, and almost three times as much than in veterans.
The median dose was 6 mg.
“I think it’s going to get worse over time,” said Dr. David Sargent, an infectious disease specialist at Vanderbilt who was not involved in the research.
The study found that those with higher risk factors were more likely to have used more corticosteroids, including people with asthma, diabetes and other chronic health conditions. “
That means that it’s really just going to be a constant escalation.”
The study found that those with higher risk factors were more likely to have used more corticosteroids, including people with asthma, diabetes and other chronic health conditions.
The researchers also found some patients were taking more than the recommended amount.
The study was published in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine.
Dr. Jeffrey R. Caudill, a senior infectious disease physician at Vanderbilt, said some vets are taking cortisors more than usual.
“We think the trend is that there’s been an increase in people taking these high doses,” he said.
“Now it’s three times the amount that I would prescribe.””
Dr. David C. Sargen, a medical director at Vanderbilt and a professor of infectious diseases, said he had noticed a rise in the number of patients who had started taking corticostro-stimulants in the last few months. “
Now it’s three times the amount that I would prescribe.”
Dr. David C. Sargen, a medical director at Vanderbilt and a professor of infectious diseases, said he had noticed a rise in the number of patients who had started taking corticostro-stimulants in the last few months.
“I’ve seen that a lot,” he added.
“We’ve seen a lot of people taking them in a little bit more than recommended.”
Sargent said it’s important to keep an eye on corticosterone levels.
“It’s really hard to get your blood levels down, and if you take too much, it’s hard to manage the side effects of it,” he explained.
Sargen said the increase in corticotrope injections over the last couple of years has prompted some vets to try and take them again.
He said vets can sometimes be caught in a Catch-22 situation.
“It’s always a good idea to take your corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) down because if you’re not getting enough, then it can cause your immune system to overreact,” he noted.
“So if you have a higher CRF level, you may have an increased risk of getting an infection.”
Dr, Julie Siegel, a clinical research specialist at the University of Minnesota Health Sciences Center, said she’s noticed an uptick in the use of corticoloids.
She said it has been difficult for her to keep track of the numbers, but she has seen an increase.
“A lot of the doctors I’ve spoken to are worried that they can’t monitor the number, and it’s also difficult to get the proper dose,” she said.
Dr Sargeng said that even if a vet is taking more corti-sores medication, it can be dangerous for him or her.
“If you take a lot, you’re going to have more cortsores,” he suggested.
The CDC recommends taking a medication that is not labeled corticocorticoid and that does not include corticomide, a class of drugs used to treat inflammation and arthritis. “
And it’s not always safe for the vet.”
The CDC recommends taking a medication that is not labeled corticocorticoid and that does not include corticomide, a class of drugs used to treat inflammation and arthritis.
But Dr. Sargon said corticoids have the potential to worsen symptoms.
“There’s no reason why we shouldn’t have a conversation about that,” he cautioned.
“There’s a lot we don’t know about corticodone and its side effects.”
Copyright Associated Press