They can have side effects including osteoporosis (thinning of bones) and diabetes, especially with long-term use.

Thinning of bones leaves many older womenvulnerable to fractured hips, wrists, spine, and other bones.

Weakening and thinning of bones (osteoporosis).

Steroids have multiple side effects, including upset stomach and gastrointestinal bleeding, high blood pressure, thinning of bones, cataracts, and increased infections.

They also showed signs of microfractures, and the weakening and thinning of bones possibly caused by mechanical stress from the constant need to make stabbing motions with the canines.

The risk of fractures increases with the thinning of bones, and the incidence of certain fractures - notably hip and vertebral - rises dramatically with old age and the onset for some of osteoporosis.

Teams headed by Dr. Cooper and Dr. William G. Powderly at Washington University in St. Louis reported that many infected people had developed thinning of bones from osteoporosis, which can increase the risk of fractures.

The patient may also experience muscle spasms, local swelling, abnormally increased sweating, changes in skin temperature (usually hot but sometimes cold) and color (bright red or a reddish violet), softening and thinning of bones, joint tenderness or stiffness, and/or restricted or painful movement.

Drug Maker's Profit Rises Eli Lilly's profit rose 22 percent in the first quarter as the company doubled sales of the schizophrenia drug Zyprexa, sold more of the antidepressant Prozac and introduced Evista, a drug to prevent the thinning of bones.