People's Pharmacy

Azmacort

Generic Name:triamcinolone

Revised:4/1/2000

Table of Contents

Special Precautions

Corticosteroid inhalers are not supposed to be readily absorbed into the body.

Nevertheless, a study in the New England Journal of Medicine (July 3, 1997) revealed that when asthma patients inhaled beclomethasone (found in Vanceril and Beclovent) for long periods of time, they experienced a substantial increase in cataract formation.

An article in JAMA (March 5, 1997) noted that high doses of inhaled steroids (taken for more than three months) increased the risk for glaucoma.

This suggests that there can be absorption of corticosteroid medication into the body from asthma inhalers.

No one should ever stop corticosteroid medication without medical supervision!

Great care is required when patients are switched from oral corticosteroid medication to inhaled corticosteroid drugs such as Azmacort.

It may take many months for a patient's system to recover from oral treatment and an asthma aerosol cannot completely suffice in time of stress or during a serious asthma attack. In such situations a physician much be contacted immediately.

Corticosteroid asthma inhalers are of little use during an acute asthma attack as they cannot provide much relief when there are constricted airways.

In such situations, a bronchodilator may be more appropriate. If a bronchodilator does not provide prompt relief while medical supervision should be sought immediately.

Because there is evidence that corticosteroid medications such as Azmacort can be absorbed into the body from an aerosol inhaler, care must be taken not to overuse such medicine.

A physician should periodically check for signs of systemic absorption. They include reduced growth in children, fluid retention, cataracts, glaucoma, acne, menstrual changes, enlarged face, and suppression of the body's natural cortisol production.

People with a risk of glaucoma or cataracts should be periodically checked by an ophthalmologist.

If it becomes necessary to discontinue a corticosteroid inhaler such as Azmacort, the process should be very gradual, following guidelines established with oral corticosteroid treatment.

People exposed to chicken pox or measles should contact a physician immediately. If the immune system is impaired (through excess corticosteroid exposure) these infections could become very serious.

Anyone with TB, herpes infection of the eye, or an untreated bacterial, fungal, or viral infection must seek medical supervision before starting corticosteroid therapy. Great caution is required in such situations as steroids may make such conditions quite hazardous.

Cases of yeast infections (Candida albicans) can occur within the mouth or throat with repeated use of any corticosteroid inhaler. If such an infection arises it requires medical supervision and appropriate antifungal therapy.

The long-term effects of inhaled corticosteroids on mouth, throat, and lung tissue are unknown.

A woman who may become pregnant should talk with a physician before using any corticosteroid medication.