Patients should consult their physicians before taking any additional prescriptions, over–the–counter medications, nutritional supplements or herbal medications. Of particular concern to individuals taking corticosteroid drugs are:

• Antacids (counteracts stomach acidity). Can decrease the effectiveness of some corticosteroids.
  
  
• Anticonvulsants (used to treat seizures). Can decrease the effectiveness of some corticosteroids.
  
  
• Diuretics (water pills). Can cause the diuretic to be less effective and may increase the loss of potassium.
  
  
• Heart medications. Can increase the risk of having an irregular heartbeat or other problems by decreasing the amount of potassium in the blood.
  
  
• Phenylbutazone (used to treat fever, pain and inflammation). Can reduce the effectiveness of corticosteroids.
  
  
• Cyclosporine (used to prevent transplanted organ rejection). Can cause seizures when taken with some corticosteroids.
  
  
• Aminoglutethimide (used to treat some kinds of tumors). Can reduce the effectiveness of corticosteroids.
  
  
• Griseofulvin (used to treat skin infections). Can reduce the effectiveness of corticosteroids.
  
  
• Ephedrine (used as a bronchodilator). May decrease the effectiveness of nasal corticosteroids.
  
  
• Ritodrine (used to stop premature labor). Could cause serious side effects when taken with corticosteroids.
  
  
• Rifampin (antibacterial drug used to treat tuberculosis). May decrease the effectiveness of nasal corticosteroids.
  
  
• Barbiturates (group of drugs used as sedatives). Can decrease the effectiveness of some corticosteroids.
  
  
• Mitotane (used to treat cancers that affect the adrenal cortex). Can decrease the effectiveness of some corticosteroids.
  
  
• Amphotericin B by injection (used to treat fungal infections). Can decrease the amount of potassium in the blood.
  
  
• Ketoconazole (used to treat fungal infections). Can increase the risk for side effects from corticosteroids.
  
  
• Antidiabetic agents or insulin (used to treat diabetes). Can increase glucose (blood sugar) levels when taken with corticosteroids.
  
  
• Medicines containing potassium (used to treat high blood pressure). Can interfere with potassium levels in the blood.
  
  
• Medicines containing sodium. Can cause the body to retain excess sodium and water, which can cause high blood sodium, high blood pressure and excess body water.
  
  
• Synthetic growth hormones. Corticosteroids can interfere with the effectiveness of these medications.
  
  
• Antibiotics (used to treat bacterial infections). Some antibiotics can increase the amount of corticosteroid removed from the body.

In addition, licorice (candy made from the licorice plant’s root) can increase the effects of corticosteroid medications.