Mild asthma - shall I take my steroid inhaler?

[lauraloris]

I have always had mild asthma, usually made worse when pollen is high or around cats, dust etc. I don’t normally take a steroid inhaler although I do have a low dose (brown) one. I can’t remember the last time I needed to take my salbutamol reliever (Blue) one, probably two weeks ago. So, I am now wondering, should I take the preventer one regularly in case I get the coronavirus??

I did have a chest infection before xmas which weirdly had same symptoms of the coronavirus (Cough, wheezing, temp etc) and was very ill for about two weeks - I was taking both inhalers because breathing was very difficult indeed. I don’t think it could have been corona however as it wasn’t here in the Uk in December ...

I’ve read that steroid inhalers can lower the immune system and I’m sure mine causes nosebleeds...so don’t want to take it if I don’t need to

Any advice?

[Hidden]

It’s up to you. I’m not medically qualified to say. But hers my twopence worth... they are prescribed for a reason, to help you breath and have functioning lungs. Like all medicine there are side effects for some users. Doctors don’t prescribe things for zero reason. For me, these drugs work and I’ve been told to increase them if I have symptoms of a cold, flu or fever, which I do. When I didn’t because I thought I knew better - I landed in hospital on a nebuliser with on steroids as the icing on the cake. Not something I want to repeat.

But, these drugs need to accumulate in your system to work. Latest advice I saw was it takes around a month to see them working effectively.

Do I enjoy taking them - no. Do I have experience of side effects - yes. But overall I like to breath.

[lauraloris in reply to Hidden]

Thank you for your opinion - I think I will start taking it

[Hidden in reply to lauraloris]

Your welcome. Stay well and stay safe.

[Poobah]

Generally, the advice has been to take our preventer inhaler. As your asthma is mild I doubt the low dose steroid inhaler will weaken your immune system to the extent suggested by some. That usually happens when oral steroids are taken for longer than two weeks.

Stay well and safe!

[lauraloris in reply to Poobah]

Thank you. Stay safe too