Corticosteroids Asthma Treatment

Aside from bronchodilators, steroids and other forms of anti-inflammatory drugs serve as key treatments for bronchial asthma. This type of medication is different from steroids used by gym and fitness enthusiasts.

The steroids prescribed for asthma works to reduce the extent of airway inflammatory responses, swelling of the respiratory tract (bronchi and bronchioles), and prevents the production of thick and tenacious mucus. As a result, this medication can improve the lung capacity of an asthmatic person.

What are the Different Types of Anti-Inflammatory and Steroidal Medications?

Basically, there are three types of steroids commonly prescribed for people suffering from bronchial asthma. These include immunomodulators , mast cell stabilizers, and leukotriene modifiers or inhibitors.

Furthermore, each type has its distinctive form and way of administration. Some steroids are taken orally while others are injectable and used as an inhalant. These types of medication are also classified under short-acting and long-acting drugs.

The short-acting steroid is used as an emergency medication that can relieve urgent asthma attack.

The long-acting steroid works as a maintenance dose to maintain the stability of lung functions.

What are the Purposes of Steroids for Asthma?

Not everyone has competent knowledge of their medication. This is why most doctors and nurses are obliged to provide health education for their patients in relation to the benefits of the pharmaceutical drugs.

Below are the indications and benefits of steroidal medicines to treat bronchial asthma:

As a mainstay treatment for asthma, steroids can minimize the signs and symptoms of asthma. It can also prevent any secondary illnesses associated to asthma such as allergic rhinitis and sinusitis. It reduces the extent of nasal flaring. 

It gives the asthmatics with benefits to control their asthma. The purpose of long-acting steroids is to reduce the frequency of using emergent steroids. Persistent use of emergent drugs for asthma is not advisable because it causes drug intolerance, which may not be a good bodily reaction towards the medicine.

It reduces the extent of hospital admission. The drug entails the improvement of wellbeing. 

Externally, using of steroids in an appropriate prescription will help the asthmatics to cope their health condition. As a result, it may reduce their stress level, prevents tension and anxiety, and lives a normal life. 

By having these benefits of using steroids, asthmatics should always remember that these drugs can prevent the signs and symptoms of asthma but it does not totally relieve them from their health problem.

The dosages and type of steroids prescribed by the physician may vary on a case-to-case basis. It means that not everyone is subjected for similar prescription.

Special Considerations for Steroids

The most common form of steroid prescribed to asthmatics is inhalant. The inhaled steroids are administered on a daily basis to acquire the best result. Asthmatics can observe improvement of their health condition usually 1 to 3 weeks from the start of treatment regimen.

The best result is expected at the third month of daily treatment routine. The usual brand names that are often prescribed for asthmatics (under inhaled steroids) are Dulera, Advair, Symbicort, Asmanex, Pulmicort, Aerobid, Flovent, and Qvar.

The inhaled steroids have three subtypes. These include nebulizer suspensions, metered dose inhalants (MDI), and dry powder inhalants (DPI). When using this medication, asthmatics should always perform an oral care (using of mouthwash, gargling of clean water, and brushing of teeth) after treatment.

The drug’s side effect is oral thrush, which is characterized as a yeast infection and hoarseness of the voice. However, this side effect can rarely affect a person but still it is ideal to practice the preventive measures for a better treatment result.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor/writer and do not necessarily represent the views of whatasthmais