Corticosteroid Classes: Types, Uses, and What You Need to Know

When your body needs to fight inflammation, reduce swelling, or calm an overactive immune system, corticosteroids, a class of synthetic hormones that mimic natural steroids produced by the adrenal glands. Also known as steroid medications, they’re among the most prescribed drugs for conditions ranging from asthma to rheumatoid arthritis. But not all corticosteroids are the same. They’re split into two main types—glucocorticoids, hormones that primarily affect metabolism and immune response and mineralocorticoids, hormones that control salt and water balance—and each serves a very different purpose.

Glucocorticoids are the ones you hear about most. Drugs like prednisone, dexamethasone, and hydrocortisone fall into this group. They’re used for allergies, autoimmune diseases, skin conditions like eczema, and even to prevent organ rejection after transplants. These drugs don’t just reduce pain—they shut down the immune system’s overreaction. But they come with trade-offs. Long-term use can lead to weight gain, high blood sugar, or bone thinning. That’s why doctors start low and go slow. Mineralocorticoids, like fludrocortisone, are less common. They’re mainly used for adrenal insufficiency or low blood pressure caused by hormone deficiency. You won’t find them in a typical medicine cabinet unless you have a specific hormonal disorder.

The difference between these classes matters because mixing them up can cause real problems. Giving a mineralocorticoid to someone with heart failure could make their fluid retention worse. Using a glucocorticoid for salt imbalance won’t fix anything. That’s why knowing the class helps you understand not just what the drug does, but why your doctor picked it. You’ll also see these steroids show up in the posts below—like how corticosteroid classes relate to managing chronic liver disease, rosacea, or even depression linked to long-term steroid use. Some articles dig into side effects, others into how they interact with other meds. What ties them all together? Real people using these drugs, and the need to use them safely, wisely, and with full awareness of what’s happening in their body.