Inhaled steroids and weight gain?

Mr. Asthma » Exercise Asthma » Inhaled steroids and weight gain?

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Question:

I chose flunisolide (Aerobid) inhaler because its strong and has minimal systemic effects. You might look into this one. Glenn

Response:

Reposting article removed by rogue canceller. See news.admin.net-abuse.announce for further information. I chose flunisolide (Aerobid) inhaler because its strong and has minimal systemic effects. You might look into this one. Glenn

Response:

>I always advise people to clean their teeth after using Becloforte – >it helps both avoid these problems, and also maintains a regular >dosing pattern. >If the problem persists, flixotide is better as the systemic >absorption is less, as is the local mucosal effect, and the use of a >volumatic type spacing device nearly always solves the problem.

That’s exactly what my last doctor suggested – moving to Flixotide really helped in my case. And the Volumatic certainly made a difference when I was on Becloforte previously. — Chris King | Advice given here should not be used as a substitute

Response:

I have had asthma for 16 years. I had no problem with weight gain until I started using inhaled steroids5 years ago. I still go to the gym regularly, eat the same or less calorie and fat intake as before, and I have the weight gain. I think some of us are just more genetically suceptable to some triggers in gaining weight, as we are our asthma. If you are really worried, and are closely monitoring her diet, then construct a workout program which she can do, even if you have to join a gym, and go with her. If the asthma is so severe as to limit exercise, there are many weight lifting machines to help tone, and bicycles etc, to workout mildly on. Self esteem is very important for a girl both to get well and try to stay well, but for a positive self image also. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – >My daughter has beeen using Vanceral for a year under a doctors care plus >other meds for her asthma. In that year she has gained almost 20 pounds and >not grown an inch. The doctor doesn’t seem to think the meds have anything >to do with it and just says to cut out sweets. I have heard of another >child who gained weight and had no growth since taking an inhaled steroid. >Anyone else hear the same thing? >I’d hate to see her give it up, it helps so much but she is getting chunky. >Any suggestions? >Donna

Response:

Although cutting out sweets is rarely a bad idea, it’s known that pregnisone correlates with wheight gain, and inhaled steroids are supposed to have the same positive effects as other steroids. That they’d have the same negative side effects isn’t a given, but it could explain why I’ve had such a hard time losing wheight lately. Scott T."hat, or my wife is a great chef."

Response:

This is Kristen, a fellow asthmatic and requiring steroidal treatment. I presently take an inhaled steroid called Becloforte and have taken the oral steroid Prednisone. I have a side effect list here for inhaled steroids that may be of help. 1. dry mouth 2. hoarseness 3. irritated throat 4. oral thrush/mouth sores The list says to contact dr. if any other side effects present themselves, so it may be a good idea to consult your dr. Oral steroids cause weight gain/fluid retention (my face ballooned from prednisone) but apparently inhaled steroids do not cause this because of direct inhalation instead of metabolizing (digesting steroids in stomach). Your daughter may be gaining weight because asthma inhibits physical activity in many people but I would definitely contact a dr. if this weight gain does not begin to level out. Best of luck! Kristen

Response:

>This is Kristen, a fellow asthmatic and requiring steroidal treatment. I >presently take an inhaled steroid called Becloforte and have taken the >oral steroid Prednisone. I have a side effect list here for inhaled >steroids that may be of help. >1. dry mouth >2. hoarseness >3. irritated throat >4. oral thrush/mouth sores

If inhaled steriods are used far and above the recommended dosage they become the same as oral steroids and can cause the same side effects. Michaele Bryant otherwise known as Miss Ann Thrope

Response:

Throat-related problems can be due to a build-up of the inhaled steroid. Try gargling with a mouthwash a few minutes after each dose. If your throat is irritated or you get oral thrush, switch to a stronger mouthwash – I use Oraldene in these situations, which is both anti- bacterial and anti-fungal. Some asthmatics I know have gargled soluble aspirin to help with an irritated throat, but I wouldn’t suggest it if you’re sensitive to aspirin, and you have to make sure that it has fully dissolved before gargling. As an aside, I had several episodes of sore throats and irritation with Becloforte, but then again each dose contains quite a lot of beclomethasone. My doctor moved me over to Flixotide, which provides an equivalent effect with a smaller dose. That seemed to cut down the sore throats drastically. >The list says to contact dr. if any other side effects present >themselves, so it may be a good idea to consult your dr. Oral steroids >cause weight gain/fluid retention (my face ballooned from prednisone) but >apparently inhaled steroids do not cause this because of direct >inhalation instead of metabolizing (digesting steroids in stomach). Your >daughter may be gaining weight because asthma inhibits physical activity >in many people but I would definitely contact a dr. if this weight gain >does not begin to level out. Best of luck!

I’d agree with all of the above, especially the bit about asthma inhibiting exercise. This is a real problem for me, because exercise triggers off attacks very quickly – my asthma is well-controlled at other times. If exercise is a problem, it might be worth asking your doctor to refer your daughter to a *qualified* dietician, who should be able to come up with a suitable diet plan for weight loss/control. Good luck ! Chris — Chris King | Advice given here should not be used as a substitute

Response:

>My daughter has beeen using Vanceral for a year under a doctors care plus >other meds for her asthma. In that year she has gained almost 20 pounds and >not grown an inch. The doctor doesn’t seem to think the meds have anything >to do with it and just says to cut out sweets. I have heard of another >child who gained weight and had no growth since taking an inhaled steroid. >Anyone else hear the same thing? >I’d hate to see her give it up, it helps so much but she is getting chunky. >Any suggestions? >Donna

My daughter is 8 yrs. old. She has been on & off inhaled steriods since she was 2. I have noticed when she is on all of these meds. she does gain weight & doesn’t grow as tall. When she is not on them she thins out & grows taller. She has been on these last meds. for about a year now & she too has gained almost 20 lbs. She has grown 1/2 inch in this year. The weight doesn’t bother me as much as her temper, attitude, moods, etc. when she is on these meds. Just my 2 cents. Tina

Response:

: : My daughter has beeen using Vanceral for a year under a doctors care plus : other meds for her asthma. In that year she has gained almost 20 : pounds and not grown an inch. The doctor doesn’t seem to think the meds have : anything to do with it and just says to cut out sweets. I have heard of : another child who gained weight and had no growth since taking an inhaled : steroid. Anyone else hear the same thing? All I know is that I gained weight when I started on it. I started taking Vanceril three months ago. Since then I’ve gained 40 pounds. The first 2 months saw weight gains of 10 pounds per week and a half. Everything about my life, before and after starting Vanceril, stayed the same. Only the drugs introduction was the only change during that time. Does it cause weight gain? Maybe for some folks it does. It sure seemed to make a difference with me. I’m planning to stop taking it soon and see what happens then . Albuterol 2 puffs 4 times per day, Atrovent 2 puffs 4 times a day, Vanceril 2 puffs 4 times a day, and O2 2lpm.

Response:

Donna, In reference to your posting about Vanceril and weight gain, I have not noticed any abnormal weight or growth problems in my two sons. Both have been taking four puffs, three times a day since July of 1993. The eight year old is sixty pounds,fifty two inches tall; the six year old, forty five pounds ,forty six inches tall. I believe that without the Vanceril ,they would not have had much of a chance at a normal life. Don’t take your daughter off of it unless your physician has a better alternative. Good luck, Sue

Response:

Hi, Donna. My 11 yr. old is overweight, but tall for his age. His diet is horrible, though. It may be that they can’t eat as many treats as other kids because they often aren’t as active. I’ll be watching the responses to your post, though. He doubled his weight in the first grade due to high doses of prednisone. I wonder if there is a correlation that just hasn’t been discovered yet? Regards, Carolyn Burton – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – >My daughter has beeen using Vanceral for a year under a doctors care plus >other meds for her asthma. In that year she has gained almost 20 pounds and >not grown an inch. The doctor doesn’t seem to think the meds have anything >to do with it and just says to cut out sweets. I have heard of another >child who gained weight and had no growth since taking an inhaled steroid. >Anyone else hear the same thing? >I’d hate to see her give it up, it helps so much but she is getting chunky. >Any suggestions? >Donna

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