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Like epinephrine, cortisol (corticosteroid or glucocorticosteroid) is a natural hormone produced by the adrenal glands. Early each morning, a burst of cortisol is usually released into your bloodstream.
Corticosteroids are one of several types of "steroids." The type of steroid used in the treatment of asthma is called a glucocorticosteroid (corticosteroid). It is important to remember that corticosteroids are different from anabolic steroids that are sometimes abused by athletes to promote the development of muscle mass. Corticosteroid use in the treatment of asthma may raise serious concerns regarding its appropriateness because of the fear of potential side effects associated with "steroids." Potential side effects associated specifically with the use of corticosteroids are discussed in the following Risks and Precautions section as well as in the Steroid Phobia section.
Description:
Corticosteroids are not bronchodilators and are generally considered controller medications. Corticosteroids work by suppressing the inflammatory reaction that causes swelling and narrowing of the bronchi. The powerful anti-inflammatory properties of corticosteroids make them unique among asthma medications. Oral and inhaled corticosteroids are used when your asthma cannot be controlled adequately with avoidance of asthma-provoking environmental factors and use of bronchodilators and other medications.
Corticosteroids are very effective in controlling asthma. Inhaled corticosteroids are often used in mild-to-moderate or severe asthma, while oral preparations are usually reserved for the more difficult-to-manage asthma symptoms or for acute exacerbations. Before beginning a course of corticosteroids, The Asthma Center specialists carefully consider the benefits versus the potential risks of side effects. The most significant side effects tend to occur if you have taken high daily oral doses of this medication over a period of months to years. The Asthma Center specialists rarely recommend the use of corticosteroids in a way that can cause long term side effects. The benefits and risks of corticosteroids must be balanced against the risks associated with poorly controlled asthma.
Corticosteroids include:
Use:
Corticosteroid preparations can be taken as a pill, liquid, inhaled, or injected.
In general, corticosteroids are used in one of the following ways:
In the following sections, each of the above methods will be discussed in detail as well as the phenomenon of "steroid-dependence."
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