INHALED CORTICOSTEROIDS

Overview & Facts

Inhaled Corticosteroids are medicines used to treat inflammation  in the airways that carry air to the lungs (bronchial tubes) and reduce the mucus made by the bronchial tubes. Only very small amounts of the medicine are absorbed into the body so these medicines don’t tend to cause serious side effects. In general, they are part of daily asthma treatment and are used every day.

Inhaled corticosteroids are often used along with different types of medicines to treat asthma. In most people, inhaled corticosteroid are the most powerful and most effective medicine for long-term control of asthma. When taken consistently, they improve lung function, improve symptoms, and reduce asthma attacks and admissions to the hospital for asthma.

Side Effects

Side Effects

Side effects of inhaled corticosteroids are uncommon at the usual dose. Side effects (many of which occur only with high doses) may include:

  • Sore Mouth, Sore Throat, or Hoarseness.
  • Cough and Spasms of the Large Airways (Bronchi).
  • Fungus Infection in the Mouth (Thrush).
  • Very Slight Reduction in Growth.
  • Decreased Bone Thickness in Adults.
  • Clouding of the Lens of the Eye (Cataract).
  • High Blood Pressure in the Eye or Fluid Buildup in the Eye (Glaucoma). This Occurs with High Doses of Inhaled Corticosteroids Used Over a Long Period Of Time.

 

Prevention

To minimize or prevent side effects of corticosteroids, the person with asthma can:

  • Use a spacer  with a metered-dose inhaler.
  • Rinse his or her mouth with water after using a corticosteroid inhaler but should not swallow the water. Swallowing the water will increase the chance that the medicine will get into the bloodstream, increasing the potential for side effects.
  • Keep the dose of inhaled corticosteroids as low as possible while still maintaining asthma control. You may be able to limit corticosteroid use by using a long-acting inhaled beta2-agonist, sustained-release theophylline, or a leukotriene pathway modifier along with inhaled corticosteroids.

Warnings & Precautions

  • Do not use any medicines if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning to get pregnant, unless your doctor tells you to. Some medicines can harm your baby. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, herbs, and supplements.
  • A very small difference in height and growth was found in children who were using inhaled corticosteroids compared to children not using them.
  • Try to avoid giving your child an inhaled medicine when he or she is crying. It is because not as much medicine is delivered to the lungs.

Follow-up care is a key part of your treatment and safety. Be sure to make and go to all appointments, and call your doctor if you are having problems. It’s also a good idea to know your test results and keep a list of the medicines you take.

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