Quote from SnowyLynne63:

I was born with asthma,but over the years it has progressed to Emphysema.I use an inhaler but not steroids.They should't be used IMO when other meds.will work.There may be a time when they will be needed.When I have a bad episode my Dr.will give me a shot of Styeroids only when I really need them.Same for Antibiotics......

HI SNOWYLYNNE63, the inhaler you use for your asthma and emphysema should have steroids in it. I found some information for you on *****.com. I hope it is useful. Treatments Include Bronchodilator medicines: This class of medication works by relaxing the muscles around the airways. They are typically indicated for the relief of bronchospasm in patients with reversible obstructive airways disease. More commonly used to treat asthma, they may be prescribed for emphysema patients if there is a tendency toward airway constriction or tightening. Some of the more common bronchodilator medicines include: albuterol, terbutaline, ipratropium bromide, and theophylline. Inhaled medicines, which go directly into the lungs and have less exposure to other parts of the body, are often tried first because they usually begin working in less than five minutes with a lower incidence of side effects.

"Valuable additions to bronchodilator therapy are blood tests used to monitor pharmacological agents such as theophylline," adds Steven Gutman, M.D., director of the division of clinical laboratory devices in the Food and Drug Administration's Center for Devices and Radiological Health. "Although tests for measuring theophylline have been available for decades," he says, "there continue to be refinements in this testing which make them more accurate and accessible. "

Anti-inflammatories (corticosteroids): Since emphysema may be associated with inflammation, doctors may prescribe a corticosteroid to soothe and ultimately heal the delicate lining layer of the air passageways, making them more resistant to obstruction. Inhaled steroids do not carry an FDA-approved indication for COPD but are used off-label by many clinicians. The type of steroid contained in these preparations is not the type that builds muscles. Long-term use of oral corticosteroids is commonly associated with a variety of dose-dependent side effects, such as osteoporosis (in both men and women), weight gain and fat redistribution, hypertension, loss of lean body mass, and high blood sugar. Commonly used corticosteroids include the oral preparation prednisone and several inhaled corticosteroids.

sincerely,
Debra