The most commonly used drugs for immunomodulatory therapy are corticosteroids, which in COVID-19 patients can suppress the host immune system and delay viral clearance. Through the findings of two recent patient studies, it is now believed that corticosteroid usage is beneficial in severe cases of COVID-19 (particularly in patients with ARDS), not in patients with mild cases of COVID-19. Therefore, corticosteroids are only recommended for patients in critical conditions.

The decision must still be made carefully even in critical cases of COVID-19 due to their potential negative side effects. There is no available data illustrating the success of corticosteroids in SARS-CoV or MERS.