Eventually, most people with any type of chronic lung disease will find themselves taking an anti-inflammatory medication at some point in their treatment. Anti-inflammatory medications improve breathing by reducing swelling of the air passages. Some anti-inflammatory medications are taken for short periods to help speed recovery when a patient has a respiratory infection or other problem causing a flare-up of breathing difficulty. Some anti-inflammatory medications are taken long-term to help prevent swollen air passages and improve lung function.
Corticosteroids vs. Anabolic Steroids
Corticosteroids: Medications that imitate the effects of a hormone produced in the adrenal gland called "cortisol," which has many functions in the body including fighting stress and reducing inflammation.
Anabolic steroids: Synthetic versions of male sex hormones that increase male characteristics. Athletes sometimes use them illegally to increase muscle mass and strength. There are legitimate medical conditions for which anabolic steroids may be prescribed, but lung disease is not one of them.
Oral steroids, such as prednisone, prednisolone or methylprednisone, are sometimes prescribed to people with cystic fibrosis (CF) for short-term treatment. They are not recommended for long-term therapy because of the potential for serious side effects including:
Growth retardation in children
Diabetes
Cataracts
Osteoporosis
Decreased ability to fight lung infections, such as the potentially deadly Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Inhaled Steroids
Inhaled steroids, such as Qvar (beclomethasone), Pulmicort (budesonide) and Flovent (flucticasone), are delivered directly to the lungs and have less side effects than oral steroids. Studies have not shown any particular benefit of long-term inhaled steroids for people with cystic fibrosis, though, so the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation advises against the routine use of inhaled steroids in people with CF unless they also have asthma.
Corticosteroids vs. Anabolic Steroids
Corticosteroids: Medications that imitate the effects of a hormone produced in the adrenal gland called "cortisol," which has many functions in the body including fighting stress and reducing inflammation.
Anabolic steroids: Synthetic versions of male sex hormones that increase male characteristics. Athletes sometimes use them illegally to increase muscle mass and strength. There are legitimate medical conditions for which anabolic steroids may be prescribed, but lung disease is not one of them.
Oral steroids, such as prednisone, prednisolone or methylprednisone, are sometimes prescribed to people with cystic fibrosis (CF) for short-term treatment. They are not recommended for long-term therapy because of the potential for serious side effects including:
Growth retardation in children
Diabetes
Cataracts
Osteoporosis
Decreased ability to fight lung infections, such as the potentially deadly Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Inhaled Steroids
Inhaled steroids, such as Qvar (beclomethasone), Pulmicort (budesonide) and Flovent (flucticasone), are delivered directly to the lungs and have less side effects than oral steroids. Studies have not shown any particular benefit of long-term inhaled steroids for people with cystic fibrosis, though, so the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation advises against the routine use of inhaled steroids in people with CF unless they also have asthma.
No comments:
Post a Comment