Corticosteroids

Corticosteroids (core-ti-stare-oids) prevent and reduce swelling inside the airways and decrease the mucus in the lungs. They are called anti-inflammatory (anti-in-flam-a-tory) medicines. These are not the same steroids used by some athletes.

How They Are Taken

Corticosteroids come in three forms:

• Inhaled using a metered dose inhaler
• Liquids or tablets (oral medicine)
• Shots- These are used only in a doctor’s office or emergency room for serious episodes

Talk to your doctor about what to do when you forget to take your medicine on time.

Possible Side Effects

Corticosteroids may cause side effects:

• Inhaled corticosteroids may cause a yeast infection in the mouth or coughing

To avoid these side effects:

• Use a spacer (an attachment on the inhaler) and
• Rinse out your mouth after you take the medicine

• Oral corticosteroids may make you want to eat more and cause your body to keep too much fluid. You may also have weight gain, rounding of the face, mood changes and high blood pressure. These will go away when you stop taking the medicine, but do not stop taking it without talking to your doctor first.
• Oral corticosteroids used for a long time cam cause bad side effects such as high blood pressure, thinning of the bones, cataracts and slower growth in children, these medicines are only used for a long time if the asthma is very hard to control.