If you take blood thinners, you might need to stop taking them for several days before your cortisone shot to reduce bleeding or bruising risk. Some dietary supplements also have a blood-thinning effect.
Cortisone has no known severe interactions with other drugs.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs)
Ibuprofen medication like Advil, Nuprin, aspirin, or most pain relievers should not be used before the procedure. NSAIDs affect platelet behavior in the blood, which can affect how well it clots.
If you take routine medications, you may take these on the day of your injection as scheduled with a small sip of water. If you have anxiety about your scheduled office procedure and prefer to have a light sedative prescribed to take before your appointment, please notify our office at least 24 hours in advance.
Interactions between your drugs
Using cortisone together with ibuprofen may increase the risk of side effects in the gastrointestinal tract such as inflammation, bleeding, ulceration, and rarely, perforation.
Cautions with other medicines
It's very important to check with your doctor or pharmacist that a medicine is safe to mix with hydrocortisone injections before you start having them. This includes prescription medicines and ones that you buy like paracetamol, ibuprofen and aspirin.
Tylenol and prednisone are generally safe to take together and are not known to interact with each other.
Cortisone injections are given in your doctor's office and don't require any special preparation. But if you take blood thinners, you might need to stop taking them for a few days before the shot as they can increase bruising and bleeding risks.
It is considered best to take corticosteroids in the morning as this is when the body usually produces the most cortisol. However, for certain diseases or severe cases, your doctor may prescribe you treatment in two separate doses (e.g. morning/afternoon or morning/evening).
It can take up to 7 days for a cortisone injection to begin working in the body. The effects of the injection usually last up to 2 months, but sometimes longer. Cortisone can reduce inflammation that damages joints.
It is important to avoid "simple" carbohydrates and concentrated sweets, such as cakes, pies, cookies, jams, honey, chips, breads, candy and other highly processed foods. This helps keep blood sugar low. Limit saturated fat and cholesterol. Choose lean meats, poultry and fish.
PATIENT INSTRUCTIONS: BEFORE YOUR EPIDURAL STEROID INJECTION
Clear liquids include: Water, tea, coffee (no cream), soft drinks, bouillon, Jello (no fruit), apple juice, cranberry juice, ice popsicles. Do not eat 4 hours prior to your appointment. Clear liquids only. You must have a driver with you to drive you home.
Side effects of injections given into the blood tend to be similar to side effects of steroid tablets, such as increased appetite, mood changes and difficulty sleeping.
Avoid stimulants, such as caffeine, because these can worsen insomnia, a side effect of prednisone.
It's fine to take paracetamol with prednisolone. You can also take opioid-type painkillers such as codeine or co-codamol. Check with your doctor or pharmacist before using steroid creams (eg for eczema or allergic skin reactions) or steroid nasal sprays (eg for hayfever) while you're using prednisolone.
After a cortisone injection, it is strongly advised to rest the affected joint for 24 hours and refrain from doing strenuous activity or exercise for several days. Resting after the shot is vital to reduce inflammation effectively.
How long does a cortisone injection last? The effect of a cortisone shot can last anywhere from 6 weeks to 6 months. As cortisone reduces inflammation, it can make you feel great.
Take this medicine with food or milk to avoid stomach irritation. Swallow the delayed-release tablet whole. Do not crush, break, or chew it.
As a general rule, patients advised receiving a steroid injection into a joint are cautioned against any heavy lifting or exercise. But after 10 days to two weeks, they are encouraged to start gentle range-of-motion exercises and to remain active as tolerated.
According to the National Institutes of Health, the side effects from cortisone shots include: Dizziness or headaches. Skin issues, including dryness, thinness, acne, dry skin, and red or purple blotches. Fatigue and trouble sleeping.
During a “flare-up,” the cortisone crystallizes in the joint, causing a lot of pain. Icing the area after the injection can reduce the “flare-up” within a day or two. The cause of this flare up is through the corticosteroids that are injected into the joint during the procedure.
If a person experiences insomnia while taking prednisone, taking the medication in the morning may help minimize the disruption to the sleep-wake cycle. Alternatively, a doctor may suggest splitting the dose between morning and night.
Only use hydrocortisone skin treatments on children under 10 years old if a doctor recommends it. Creams you can buy are not supposed to be used on the eyes, around the bottom or genitals, or on broken or infected skin.
Can I walk after a cortisone injection in my foot? After a steroid injection, you can return to most daily activities, including walking. The treating clinician may suggest against walking a distance/many steps. You should have no issues with walking out of the clinic upon completion of the injection.