Corticosteroids (Inhalation)

Category

• Anti-inflammatory, inhalation - Beclomethasone; Budesonide; Flunisolide; Triamcinolone
• Antiasthmatic - Beclomethasone; Budesonide; Flunisolide; Triamcinolone

Description

Inhalation corticosteroids (kor-ti-koe-STER-oids) are cortisone-like medicines. They are used to help prevent the symptoms of asthma. When used regularly every day, inhalation corticosteroids decrease the number and severity of asthma attacks. However, they will not relieve an asthma attack that has already started.

Inhaled corticosteroids work by preventing certain cells in the lungs and breathing passages from releasing substances that cause asthma symptoms.

This medicine may be used with other asthma medicines, such as bronchodilators (medicines that open up narrowed breathing passages) or other corticosteroids taken by mouth.

Inhalation corticosteroids are available only with your doctor's prescription, in the following dosage forms:

Inhalation
• Beclomethasone
  • Aerosol (U.S. and Canada)
  • Capsules for inhalation (Canada)
  • Powder for inhalation (Canada)
• Beclomethasone dipropionate HFA
  • Aerosol (U.S. and Canada)
• Budesonide
  • Powder for inhalation (U.S. and Canada)
  • Suspension for inhalation (U.S. and Canada)
• Flunisolide
  • Aerosol (U.S. and Canada)
• Triamcinolone
  • Aerosol (U.S. and Canada)

Brand Names

Some commonly used brand names are:

In the U.S. -

• AeroBid ³
• AeroBid-M ³
• Azmacort ⁴
• Beclovent ¹
• Pulmicort Respules ²
• Pulmicort Turbuhaler ²
• Qvar ¹
• Vanceril ¹
• Vanceril 84 mcg Double Strength ¹

In Canada -

• Azmacort ⁴
• Beclodisk ¹
• Becloforte ¹
• Beclovent ¹
• Beclovent Rotacaps ¹
• Bronalide ³
• Qvar ¹
• Pulmicort Nebuamp ²
• Pulmicort Turbuhaler ²
• Vanceril ¹

Other commonly used names are: Beclomethasone dipropionate; Beclomethasone; Beclomethasone dipropionate