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I I v v v v d v v Patient advice and liaison service (PALS) Actions r v If you have a compliment, complaint or It is sensible to ensure you make the r concern please contact our PALS team on following steps now you have a new r 020 7288 5551 or inhaler d [email protected] d d  Pick up our guide on inhalers and If you need a large print, audio or spacers to complement this leaflet translated copy of this leaflet please Inhaled Steroids in  Agree on a personalised contact us on 020 7288 3182. We will try plan (this is done with your doctor or our best to meet your needs. Asthma nurse and usually written down for future reference)  Remember to take your medicines A patient’s guide as advised  Should your inhalers fail to relieve your symptoms, go straight to Accident and Emergency

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Whittington Paediatric Asthma Nurse Tel: 020 7288 5527 Whittington Health Community Nurse Magdala Avenue Islington 020 3316 1950 (8am-6pm) London N19 5NF Haringey 020 8887 3301 (9am – 5pm) Phone: 020 7272 3070 www.whittington.nhs.uk Asthma UK 0300 222 5800 Date published: 25/09/2018 www.asthma.org.uk Review date: 25/09/2020 Ref: C&YP/Paed/ISA/03

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Tel: 020 7272 3070

Asthma There are many types of preventer Side Effects Asthma is a common condition affecting inhaler. There are simple steroids like Parents worry about children and young the airway. Usually a trigger (such as dust beclomethasone, and then there are also adults taking inhaled steroids because of or pollen) irritates the airways which combined inhalers, called seretide or side effects they’ve heard about. causes narrowing, swelling and sticky simbicort. Your inhaler may be brown, red, However most of these side effects are mucus to be produced. orange or purple. associated with taking oral steroids. If your This diagram compares the airways of a The benefit builds up over time and so inhaler technique is good, and you use a person with asthma (right) and those of these inhalers need to be taken every day, spacer, then serious side effects are someone without asthma (left). Like a pipe even if you’re not breathless as they offer extremely rare, because the medicine that is clogged and narrow, it’s easy to protection for when your symptoms may goes directly to your lungs in just the right see why asthma makes you short of become triggered. They will not relieve a amount. breath! sudden shortness of breath. It is important that you take these inhalers with your spacer device, as this ensures they reach the lungs (where they are needed) rather than the stomach (where they can cause side effects). If you taste

the medicine on the back of your throat, it might be that it’s not reaching your lungs. There is a small risk of sore throat, hoarse This is your steroid card (below). Keep it Symptoms include: voice and an of the mouth called with your inhaler. thrush. This can be avoided if you use  Difficulty breathing/chest tightness , or take your inhaler before  Cough food or drink. Using a spacer also reduces  Wheeze this. Name: ______DOB: ______

These may be worst at night or with My inhaler is: ______(colour) Inhaled steroids rarely cause growth exercise. and the medicine inside is called: ______problems, but just in case your doctor or asthma nurse will be measuring your Treatment I take ______puffs ______times a day and height each time you see them. There are many inhalers used in asthma, with/without a spacer this booklet focuses on inhaled steroids. My Dr is: ______Contact No: ______They will also ensure you are on the These are also known as ‘preventer’ lowest dose you need to control your inhalers, and they work by controlling the asthma. swelling and in the airways.