The steroid safety checklist: recommendations for risk mitigation in corticosteroid prescribing for neurology patients

<h3></h3> The use of corticosteroids to treat neurological diseases is associated with significant risks and requires careful consideration from the prescriber. Education of patients and carers is important to ensure they recognise complications that may require urgent intervention. With multi-specialty input, we devised a steroid safety checklist for use in our institution to guide the prescriber through the process of risk mitigation, including relevant investigations, co- prescribing advice, and monitoring requirements. Major consideration is given to adrenal insufficiency, steroid-induced hyperglycaemia, bone protection and infection risk. Working with our nursing colleagues, we established a service for the provision of home blood glucose monitors and training to at-risk individuals commencing steroid therapy. The application of our checklist can help to promote safe steroid prescribing practice.