Corticosteroids : Before Using

Corticosteroids - Inhalation

Corticosteroids *** Before Using *** How to Use *** Fore Safe Use *** Side Effects *** Additional Information

Before Using

In deciding to using a medication, the chance of taking the drug must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you will make. For inhalation corticosteroids, the following must be considered

Allergic reaction

Tell your family doctor if you have any unusual or allergic reaction to corticosteroids. Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.

Pregnancy care

Although studies in pets have shown that inhaled corticosteroids cause birth defects and other problems, these medication, when using in regular daily doses during pregnancy to keep the mother's asthma under control, have not been reported to cause breathing problems or birth defects in the newborn. Always corticosteroids may prevent the effects of poorly controlled asthma, which are known to be harmful to the baby. Before taking an inhaled corticosteroid, make sure your family doctor knows if you are pregnant or if you may become pregnant.

Breast-feeding problem

It is not known whether inhaled corticosteroids pass into breast milk. Although most medication pass into breast milk in small amounts, many of them may be using safely while breast-feeding. Mothers who are using this drug and who wish to breast-feed must discuss this with their family doctor.

Use for Children

Inhalation corticosteroids have been tested in child and, except for the possibility of slowed growth, in low effective doses, have not been shown to cause various side effects or problems than they do in adults.

Studies have shown that slowed growth or reduced adrenal gland function may occur in some children using inhaled corticosteroids in recommended doses. However, poorly controlled asthma may cause slowed growth, especially when corticosteroids taken by mouth are needed often. Your family doctor will want you to use the lowest possible dose of an inhaled corticosteroid that controls asthma. This will lessen the risk of an effect on growth or adrenal gland function It is also important that children taking inhaled corticosteroids visit their family doctors regularly so that their growth rates may be monitored.

Regular use of inhaled corticosteroids may allow some children to stop using or decrease the amount of corticosteroids taken by mouth. This also will reduce the risk of slowed growth or reduced adrenal function.

Children who are using inhaled corticosteroids in large doses must avoid exposure to chickenpox or measles. When a child is exposed or the disease develops, the family doctor must be contacted and his or her directions must be followed carefully.

Before this drug is given to a child, you and your child's family doctor must talk about the good this drug will do as well as the chance of using it. Follow the family doctor's directions very carefully to lessen the risk that unwanted effects will occur.

Elderly care

Many medication have not been studied specifically in elderly people. Therefore, it may not be known whether they work exactly the same way they do in adults people. Although there is no special info comparing use of inhaled corticosteroids in the elderly with use in other age groups, this drug is not expected to cause various side effects or problems in elderly people than it does in adults people.

Drug interactions

Although certain medication must not be using together at all, in other cases two various medication may be using together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your family doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. Tell your health care professional if you are taking any other prescription or nonprescription - over-the-counter "OTC " drug.

Other Information for using

The presence of other medical problems may effect the use of inhaled corticosteroids. Make sure you tell your family doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

Cirrhosis - liver disease The effect of inhaled corticosteroids may be stronger in diseaseds with this disease
Glaucoma Use of this drug may cause the pressure in the eye to be increased
Hypothyroidism - decreased production of thyroid hormone The effect of inhaled corticosteroids may be stronger in diseaseds with this condition
Infections, untreated Using this drug while an infection is present and is not being treated may cause the infection to get worse.
Osteoporosis - bone disease Inhaled corticosteroids in high doses may make this condition worse in women who are past menopause and who are not receiving an estrogen replacement

Tuberculosis - history of Use of this drug may cause a tuberculosis infection to occur again