STEROIDS
Corticosteroids reduce inflammation, swelling and mucus production. For people with an asthma component to their COPD, or if the COPD is advanced, taking inhaled corticosteroids can help reduce the number and severity of your flare-ups.
The most common anti-inflammatory steroidal drugs include:
Beclomethasone
(QVARTM)Budesonide(Pulmicort®)
Ciclesonide
(Alvesco®)
Fluticasone(Flovent®)
Corticosteroids must be used regularly and DO NOT have immediate effects. This means they have NO VALUE when an effect is needed in minutes.
Side Effects of Corticosteroid Inhalers
few side
effects at low doses
hoarseness and
sore throat
thrush or yeast
infection
Throat infections can be prevented by
rinsing the mouth and gargling, and by using a spacer device.
Because long-term use of inhaled or oral
corticosteroids suppresses the body's own production of corticosteroids,
treatment lasting more than a few weeks should be slowly withdrawn to give
the body time to re-adjust.
Corticosteroid
Tablets
Corticosteroid tablets or Prednisone® :
Some inhalers have both an inhaled steroid and a long-acting bronchodilator to help reduce swelling, relieve shortness of breath, improve lung function and help prevent flare-ups. These medications should be taken regularly.
are used when inflammation
becomes severe reduce inflammation,
swelling & mucus, and help bronchodilators work better start to work within a few
hours, but may take several days to have a full effect often are used for short
periods of time to get the inflammation under control there are many side
effects if used long-term, such as water retention, bruising, puffy face,
increased appetite, weight gain and stomach irritation
Combined steroid and long-acting bronchodilators
Salmeterol xinofoate/fluticasone proprionate (Advair®)
Budesonide/fomoterol fumarate dehydrate (Symbicort®)
| Bronchodilators |  |
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Antibiotics |