Mr. Asthma

Question:

Asthamacorte does have some absorption into the blood supply.  If I remember correctly the dose you are taking is about the equivalent of 7 1/2 mg of oral prednisone.  I think that is certainly enough to cause weight gain. Re your question about Serevent.  I use only one puff am and one pm to lessen the jittery side effects, but it has helped me enormously. Now I can usually sleep thru the night without waking up to use Proventil. Elaine rec.crafts.textiles.needlework alt.support.asthma

Response:

As noted in other posts inhaled steroids *can* have this sort of effect, but another reason seems to be good old ano domini – older people tend to be fatter, and as I know it does creep up on one.  All of a sudden (this happened a couple of years before the asthma) none of my ‘posh’ (e.g. work) cloths fitted and I had lumps & rolls where firm flesh used to be! >I was wondering if anyone is aware if cortisteroids can increase >your weight? I’ve slowly been gaining weight over the years, nothing >tremendous, but it all starts adding up. I’ve heard that >actual steroids such as prednisone can contribute to this, but i was >unsure if the inhaled steroids can do the same. I’m on Azmacort >6 puffs 2x a day.  Thank you in advance for your support. >                       Kevin

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Response:

> Asthamacorte does have some absorption into the blood supply.  If I remember > correctly the dose you are taking is about the equivalent of 7 1/2 mg of oral > prednisone.  I think that is certainly enough to cause weight gain. > Re your question about Serevent.  I use only one puff am and one pm to lessen > the jittery side effects, but it has helped me enormously. > Now I can usually sleep thru the night without waking up to use Proventil. > Elaine > rec.crafts.textiles.needlework > alt.support.asthma

Is it really true that 12 puffs of Azmacort is equal to 7.5 mg of oral Prednisone?  Where did you get this information?  I was under the impression that very little is absorbed systemically when using inhaled steroids.Jeff.

Response:

>Asthamacorte does have some absorption into the blood supply.  If I remember >correctly the dose you are taking is about the equivalent of 7 1/2 mg of oral >prednisone.  I think that is certainly enough to cause weight gain.

Actually the _effects_ of Azmacort are equal to 7.5mg pred.  The actual dose is about 1/30th that.

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > Dear Ellis : > Thank you for your response. I have been gaining weight slowly > over the years and wondered what part the asthma meds could > play in this.  However I do exercise regularly and try to watch my food > intake as I try to keep my weight in range of my height. There > are other factors that may be playing a role in the weight gain and I’m > going to investigate those. The drug Serevent : do you know > much about it? The dr has given me a script for it due to my > exercise….the asthma bothers me more in cold weather and increased > respiration.  He said this would help. I’ve seen some > individuals on the newsgroup indicate they have had leg cramps > and other problems with this drug.  Are there alot of side effects? > What type of drug is it? Is it an effective drug overall. Thank you > Ellis. > Kevin B.

Kevin, Serevent is a long-acting bronchodilator beta2-agonist drug. Similar to Ventolin except it lasts longer (12 hr instead of 4-6 hr) and and takes a longer time to take effect; therefore it should’t be used for rescue. Keep your Ventolin inhaler handy for that purpose; I carry one when I go out, just in case. Side effects tend to be similar to those for other bronchodilators like Ventolin, ie jitteriness. Often side effects diminish after it’s used for a few weeks. I initially seemed to have nightmares with it, they went away after a few weeks. I have found it quite effective; and it reduces the need for steroid inhalers, Vanceril DS in my case. Note that the recommended dose, 2 pf x 2, is also the maximum dose. It can be used for exercise induced asthma if taken well in advance; but don’t exceed 2 puffs in a 12 hour period. I have an evening Folk Dance class I attend; I take one puff before class and the 2nd puff afterwards. If I need more while exercising, I use the Ventolin. Normally I take 2 puffs Serevent morning and evening. Here’s a link: http://www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic/salmet.htm salmeterol (Serevent) See adverse reactions table comparing salmeterol to albuterol and placebo. Leg cramps are a rare side effect. Regarding the weight problem, I have been gaining weight too. Maybe too much time on the computer and not enough exercising; plus the diet thing. I think I’ll go for a brisk walk right now. Ellis

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I was wondering if anyone is aware if cortisteroids can increase > your weight? I’ve slowly been gaining weight over the years, nothing > tremendous, but it all starts adding up. I’ve heard that > actual steroids such as prednisone can contribute to this, but i was > unsure if the inhaled steroids can do the same. I’m on Azmacort > 6 puffs 2x a day.  Thank you in advance for your support. >                         Kevin > 12 pf/day of Azmacort is a Moderate Dose. The side effects could be > implicated in weight gain, but most people tend to gain weight as > they get older, their metabolism slows down, and they continue to > eat the same amount of calories. This can be counterbalanced, in > theory, by watching the diet and increasing exercise. > Still, there are better asthma inhalers, 12 pf/day is a hassle, > especially if you wait a minute between puffs, as usually recommended. > Azmacort is a weak steroid inhaler, and seems to have more severe > side effects than other steroid inhalers. > Ask your doctor about switching to one of the stronger inhalers > that take fewer puffs; Flovent, Pulmicort, or Vanceril DS. > Be sure to use an AeroChamber spacer with the Flovent and Vanceril DS > MDIs. > Ellis

Dear Ellis : Thank you for your response. I have been gaining weight slowly over the years and wondered what part the asthma meds could play in this.  However I do exercise regularly and try to watch my food intake as I try to keep my weight in range of my height. There are other factors that may be playing a role in the weight gain and I’m going to investigate those. The drug Serevent : do you know much about it? The dr has given me a script for it due to my exercise….the asthma bothers me more in cold weather and increased respiration.  He said this would help. I’ve seen some individuals on the newsgroup indicate they have had leg cramps and other problems with this drug.  Are there alot of side effects? What type of drug is it? Is it an effective drug overall. Thank you Ellis. Kevin B.

Response:

I was wondering if anyone is aware if cortisteroids can increase your weight? I’ve slowly been gaining weight over the years, nothing tremendous, but it all starts adding up. I’ve heard that actual steroids such as prednisone can contribute to this, but i was unsure if the inhaled steroids can do the same. I’m on Azmacort 6 puffs 2x a day.  Thank you in advance for your support.                         Kevin

Response:

> I was wondering if anyone is aware if cortisteroids can increase > your weight? I’ve slowly been gaining weight over the years, nothing > tremendous, but it all starts adding up. I’ve heard that > actual steroids such as prednisone can contribute to this, but i was > unsure if the inhaled steroids can do the same. I’m on Azmacort > 6 puffs 2x a day.  Thank you in advance for your support. >                         Kevin

12 pf/day of Azmacort is a Moderate Dose. The side effects could be implicated in weight gain, but most people tend to gain weight as they get older, their metabolism slows down, and they continue to eat the same amount of calories. This can be counterbalanced, in theory, by watching the diet and increasing exercise. Still, there are better asthma inhalers, 12 pf/day is a hassle, especially if you wait a minute between puffs, as usually recommended. Azmacort is a weak steroid inhaler, and seems to have more severe side effects than other steroid inhalers. Ask your doctor about switching to one of the stronger inhalers that take fewer puffs; Flovent, Pulmicort, or Vanceril DS. Be sure to use an AeroChamber spacer with the Flovent and Vanceril DS MDIs. Ellis

Response: