Does this mean I have to take inhaled steroids for the rest of my life?
Some people may require inhaled steroid controllers for several years in order to remain well controlled and reduce impairment and risk. Others may more easily achieve sustained asthma control and gradually have controller medication reduced and eliminated. The NIH asthma guidelines provide a framework for the achievement of well controlled asthma with the minimum amount of drug intervention.
So, what do I have to say about stopping asthma medication? Truth be told, I become more interested in finding out how much and how often controller medication is actually being taken by the patient who asks this question. But "compliance of patients with controllers" will be a topic of another day.
