Anti-Inflammatories
Anti-inflammatories help reduce airway inflammation and decrease mucus production. Inhaled corticosteroids and corticosteroid pills are two types of anti-inflammatories frequently used to treat COPD.
What about inhaled corticosteroids?
What about corticosteroid pills?
What about inhaled corticosteroids?
Some people with COPD benefit from the use of inhaled corticosteroids. Inhaled corticosteroids are usually taken regularly. Long-term use at high doses can be associated with side effects, such as loss of bone mineral density, so you should discuss the risks and benefits of these medications with your physician. Using a spacer with inhaled corticosteroids and rinsing your mouth after inhaling the medication reduces the risk of thrush. Thrush, a possible side effect, is a yeast infection causing a white discoloration of the tongue.
Inhaled corticosteroids include:
- Vanceril® and Beclovent® (beclomethasone)
- Azmacort® (triamcinolone)
- Aerobid® (flunisolide)
- Flovent® (fluticasone)
- Pulmicort® (budesonide)
Learn more about inhaled steroids.
Inhaled Corticosteroid and Long Acting Beta-Agonists:
- Advair® is a combination medication. Flovent® and Serevent® are the medications combined in Advair®. Advair® is used regularly.
What about corticosteroid pills?
Most people with COPD show little or no improvement when corticosteroid pills are given over a long period of time. They are, however, used in special circumstances, such as when your symptoms are getting worse or you need to be hospitalized. Long-term use of corticosteroid pills can result in serious side effects.
Corticosteroid pills include:
- Deltasone® (prednisone)
- Medrol® (methylprednisolone)
Learn more about oral steroids.
This information has been approved by Esther Langmack, M.D. (March 2006).
