Page 165 - COMMUNITY PHARMACY PRACTICE

02/04/2024

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Inhaled corticosteroids (ICS)

anti-inflammatory drugs most effective long-term control medications for asthma.
They reduce inflammation in airways, prevent blood vessels from leaking fluid into
airway tissues and block allergic responses. Examples include:

• Fluticasone (Flovent)
• Budesonide (Pulmicort)
• Triamcinolone (Azmacort)
• Flunisolide (Aerobid)
• Beclomethasone (Qvar)
• Mometasone (Asmanex)

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ICS side effect?

• Mouth and throat irritation
• Oral yeast infections
• Dysphonia
• Other CS side effects (oral)…..monographs

• There is an increased risk of cataracts, reduced bone mineral
density, osteoporosis, glaucoma and bruising of the skin with long-
term treatment with high-dose ICS.

How to reduce side effects?

• Use a spacer and rinse mouth with water after each use.
This reduces the amount of drug that can be swallowed
and absorbed into your body.

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