Corticosteroids (inhaled / ICS)
- Foundation anti-inflammatory asthma therapy
- ↓ exacerbations, symptoms + mortality risk
- Often paired with formoterol as reliever
- COPD: add selectively, esp eosinophilic
- Thrush/dysphonia → rinse after use
- Higher COPD exposure → pneumonia risk
- Use lowest effective maintenance dose
Class at a glance
- Foundation anti-inflammatory asthma therapy
Members / distinctions
- COPD: add selectively, esp eosinophilic
Clinical role
- Often paired with formoterol as reliever
- Thrush/dysphonia → rinse after use
- Use lowest effective maintenance dose
Safety / monitoring
- ↓ exacerbations, symptoms + mortality risk
- Higher COPD exposure → pneumonia risk
Pearls
- Agents roughly equivalent at usual doses
- Stopping ICS when controlled raises exacerbation risk
- Spacer plus mouth rinse curbs local effects
- High doses: monitor adrenal suppression, bone density, cataracts, glaucoma
Self-check
- What should patients do after inhaled corticosteroid use to address thrush/dysphonia?
Rinse. - What risk rises with higher inhaled corticosteroid exposure in COPD?
Pneumonia.
Drugs in this class (6)
Corticosteroids (inhaled / ICS) prescription history
Animated chart of estimated U.S. prescriptions per year, Asthma/COPD meds (1924–2026). Inhaled corticosteroids highlighted from 1976.
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