I am undergoing tests for breathlessness. Consultant suspects it is non allergic late onset asthma. I have been using Fostair 200/6 for about 3 weeks which thankfully has improved symptoms.
However a recent thyroid blood test gave a very high reading for T4 levels.
Do steroid inhalers affect your thyroid levels?
Do the side effects of hoarse voice and leg cramps and flushed cheeks go away!
Thank you
Forstair worked very well for me but I had to stop being prescribed it due to severe leg cramps!
If the leg cramps don’t improve go back to your GP.
I was on steroid inhalers for over 25 years before my thyroid became an issue, but I can't find any research that links steroid use to thyroid disease. If you do take both asthma meds and thyroid treatment, try and make sure there's a decent gap of time between taking the thyroid treatment and your asthma treatment, per the patient leaflet advice. That's because thyroid treatment interacts with various other meds.
The Fostair patient leaflet does highlight the potential for lowered potassium levels and this is probably causing the cramps. It's important to increase the potassium in one's diet but if that isn't sufficient then your doctor should check your potassium levels and treat. Don't take OTC potassium supplements without talking to your doctor. Too much potassium is detrimental to one's health.
I always rinse and gargle after inhaler use in order to protect the throat. Dental hygiene is very important when taking inhalers as they can affect the teeth and throat. I use a high fluoride toothpaste but never rinse after use as that just washes away the fluoride.
Fostair200/6 is strong and effective and your body should get used to it. It's good to have a progress review with your doctor after 8 to 10 weeks on a new asthma treatment, just to ensure that it's doing the job and you're not experiencing side effects. Not every asthma treatment suits every asthmatic, so never feel you're being a nuisance by asking your doctor for a review or to highlight problems with your prescription meds.
Hi Pooobah
Thank you. That is all great info. I have been using a spacer as I was not sure I was doing it correctly straight into mouth. I do rinse and gargle after but the info about high fluoride toothpaste is good to know.
There was an issue with the thyroid blood test and I am repeating it next week. I wonder if the high T4 reading was incorrect.
A blood test is a snap shot, so having another test is a good idea. Patterns are more valuable than a one off view. You may want to join the thyroid forum as you'll get more responses than just me and my experience. thyroiduk.org/help-and-supp...
Thanks. I have been a member of the Thyroid forum for several years. I posted the same question on there.
👍
Hi, the side effects did subside for me after a while, but when the cramps started I started to eat a banana a day, I've heard inhalers can cause potassium deficiency and bananas are a good source of potassium.
Thank you. Bananas it is then. 😜
Bananas aren't that good re potassium and other foods are richer in potassium. This article gives the top 10 potassium rich foods. You'd have to eat 13 bananas a day to hit your 4,700mg target.
sharp.com/health-news/where...
Thanks for the link, that is really interesting. I eat most of those items.
I had really severe leg cramps with Fostair. After my asthma was brought under control I asked the specialist if I could take less, thinking that might help with the cramping. (It was pure agony sometimes.) She said I would have the same problem even with less medicine and gave me a different inhaler. Which almost did me in. So figured I might as well ask my GP instead and she said there was no harm in trying a test of a lesser amount of Fostair (still within guidelines) if the asthma was under control. It's been two years now and my asthma is still under control and I have no leg cramps! Perhaps I just had an overly zealous specialist or maybe my body just reacts differently. But maybe you don't need as much meds as prescribed, maybe talk to your doctor?
I’ve been taking thyroxine for 30 years now, and my annual blood test hasn’t shown any change since I started using a steroid inhaler for some 6 or so years. From personal experience I’d say that blood thyroid levels aren’t affected by the steroid, but of course each person is individual in their response to medication.
The HU Thyroid forum has some very knowledgeable members, so they may have some more specific information about this. The tips on preparation for having a thyroid blood test are very helpful with regard to the timing of the test and your diet beforehand, along with when to take your thyroid replacement medication in relation to other medications or supplements.
Good luck 🙂
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