Opinion: Doctors — and patients — must seek alternatives to long-term steroids
Steroids were once the only treatment option for some chronic conditions. Today, many other treatments exist, but doctors often stick with the tried-and-true steroids. There are good reasons for this: They are low-cost and readily approved by insurance companies.
But while generally safe for short-term use, long-term steroids pose significant dangers. When weeks on steroids turn into months, or years, the risks grow, and patients should ask questions.
