Cortisone can be administered orally (per os) using tablets, by intramuscular or intravenous injection (direct or perfusion), locally by joint infiltration, or finally by applying it directly to the skin (percutaneously) in relation to the joint (gel, cream ...) or on certain lupus rashes.

The usual route of administration remains the oral route, with tablets. The drug we recommend is prednisone/prednisolone, because it is less toxic in case of prolonged use, than some other preparations.

The usual intravenous route is an infusion. The idea is to administer, in a few hours (2 to 6 hours), a large amount of cortisone in order to have a very important immediate pain reduction and anti-inflammatory effect (without having the harmful effects of this type of treatment if it was administered orally in an equivalent dose).

Infusions are usually repeated 3 days in a row. This therapeutic modality is called "cortisone assault" (or "pulse"). The effect of this perfusion usually lasts a few weeks.

However, this type of treatment requires special precautions (examinations before the infusion, strict rest and monitoring during and after the perfusion). This justifies hospitalisation for its administration. More rarely, in lupus, cortisone can be administered as an joint injection. This is especially possible in large joints such as the knee in case of recurrent joint effusion, which is rare.