Steroid-based lung inhalers for asthma patients

Common inhaled steroids include: budesonide, fluticasone, flunisolide, triamcinolone and beclomethasone. There are four groups of inhaler devices:
1. Pressurized MDIs (Metered Dose Inhalers)-the most common device.
2. Inhalers with spacer devices –for children and very old people with incoordination.
3. Dry powder inhalers- each dose contains the medicine in a powder form that has to be sucked in. It is not suitable for children under 5-6 years.
4. Nebulisers- a nebuliser generates an aerosol vapor of the medicine. It is used mainly in hospitals for those with severe attacks of asthma when large doses are required.

Steroid-based lung inhalers reduce the need for oral corticosteroids. Some guidelines recommend steroid-based lung inhalers to be started in any patient whose asthma is not controlled by inhaled bronchodilators. If asthma is not controlled by the standard dose, then it may be increased two-fold or more. The majority of currently available steroid-based lung inhalers require 2-4 weeks of treatment to produce relief. Simultaneously, oral corticosteroids can also be started for faster resolution. The improvements can be maintained d with an inhaler after oral treatment is stopped. One of the most common complication of steroid inhalers is the development of thrush.