[Secondary side effects of corticosteroids and the management of corticosteroid therapy]

The side effects of glucocorticoids are the result of their biological effects and closely related to the dose administered and the duration of treatment. Whilst excessive amounts may result in the development of a clinical and biological Cushings syndrome, there exists also the problem of avoiding acute adrenal insufficiency when corticosteroids are stopped after a prolonged period of administration or during substitutive therapy for adrenal insufficiency. Aspects requiring surveillance are discussed.