Pulmicort Turbuhaler

If you are switching to Pulmicort from an oral steroid medication, the doctor will be careful to reduce your oral dosage very gradually. Taking oral steroids suppresses the natural production of steroids by the adrenal gland, and it takes months for production to return to normal after the oral steroids are stopped. In the meantime, the body will be unusually vulnerable to stress.

There have been reports of death during and immediately after transfer from oral steroids to inhaled steroids, so your doctor will monitor you carefully during this period. People who have been taking high doses of oral steroids for an extended period of time are especially prone to problems, particularly when the oral steroids have been almost completely stopped. At that point, any stress from trauma, surgery, or infection (especially stomach or intestinal inflammation) is more likely to trigger adverse events.

If you experience a period of stress or a severe asthma attack during your switch to Pulmicort, you should begin taking your oral medication again (in large doses) and contact your doctor immediately. You should carry a medical identification card indicating that you may need additional medication during periods of stress or a severe asthma attack.

Transfer from oral steroids to Pulmicort may unmask allergic conditions previously controlled by those steroids, such as nasal inflammation, conjunctivitis (pinkeye), and eczema. Transfer from oral steroids may also be accompanied by withdrawal symptoms, including joint or muscle pain, fatigue, and depression, even while Pulmicort is improving your asthma symptoms.

Like other inhaled asthma medications, Pulmicort occasionally triggers an asthma attack. If this occurs, immediately use a fast-acting inhaled bronchodilator, stop using Pulmicort, and contact your doctor. You'll need to switch to a different asthma medication. Also alert your doctor immediately if the usual doses of your fast-acting bronchodilator no longer work. You may need to take oral steroids for a while.