[Verse 1]
Corticosteroids, synthetic cortisol kin,
Bind glucocorticoid receptors deep within,
Suppress phospholipase A2, halt arachidonate,
No prostaglandins cooking, inflammation can't proliferate,
Dexamethasone, prednisone, methylprednisolone,
Hydrocortisone, triamcinolone holding its own,
Betamethasone for the epidural space,
Budesonide, fludrocortisone keeping pace,
Deflazacort and paramethasone round the list complete,
Ten agents in the arsenal, memorize the fleet
[Chorus]
DEX PRED METHYL HYDRO — four that lead the pack,
BETA BUDE FLUDRO — covering front and back,
TRIAMCINOLONE joints, DEFLAZACORT precise,
PARAMETHASONE closing — ten names, run it twice,
Corticosteroids cut the tumor's stranglehold,
Nerve compression, bone pain, cancer — that's the role they hold
[Verse 2]
Systemic use for cancer pain, mechanism runs deep,
Reduce peritumoral edema while the patient tries to sleep,
Nerve compression from a mass? Dexamethasone's decree,
Four to sixteen milligrams daily, titrate carefully,
Bone pain from metastatic spread, prostaglandins fanning flames,
Steroids quench that biochemical cascade, neutralize the claims,
Appetite stimulation, antiemetic bonus round,
Mood elevation short-term, these secondary gains compound,
But the clock is ticking on that systemic dose you give,
Calculate the benefit-to-burden ratio if they live
[Chorus]
DEX PRED METHYL HYDRO — four that lead the pack,
BETA BUDE FLUDRO — covering front and back,
TRIAMCINOLONE joints, DEFLAZACORT precise,
PARAMETHASONE closing — ten names, run it twice,
Corticosteroids cut the tumor's stranglehold,
Nerve compression, bone pain, cancer — that's the role they hold
[Verse 3]
Adverse effects accumulate like interest on a debt,
Adrenal suppression — hypothalamic-pituitary reset,
Cushingoid features, osteoporosis fractures cascade,
Hyperglycemia spiking, immunosuppression's blade,
Myopathy proximal, GI mucosa stripped thin,
Psychiatric breaks and cataracts creeping in,
Avascular necrosis — femoral head collapses clean,
Fluid retention, hypertension, metabolic mischief unseen,
Taper don't abruptly stop or adrenal crisis drops the floor,
HPA axis needs that slow wean to restore
[Bridge]
Epidural steroids — triamcinolone, betamethasone placed,
Reducing radicular inflammation, nerve root irritation chased,
Intra-articular injections, synovial inflammation blocked,
Evidence is moderate, frequency must be clocked,
Too many shots, the cartilage degrades beneath the scope,
Particulate versus non-particulate — know before you inject the dope,
Intravascular injection, spinal cord infarct risk is real,
Fluoroscopic guidance, contrast confirmation — that's the deal
[Chorus]
DEX PRED METHYL HYDRO — four that lead the pack,
BETA BUDE FLUDRO — covering front and back,
TRIAMCINOLONE joints, DEFLAZACORT precise,
PARAMETHASONE closing — ten names, run it twice,
Corticosteroids cut the tumor's stranglehold,
Nerve compression, bone pain, cancer — that's the role they hold