I am on a corticosteroid, for asthma?!
Question: I am on a corticosteroid, for asthma.?
I just started using a corticosteroid for asthma(flovent)(fluticasone) I am 15 years old, I have heard it can slow your growth rate..is that true.? how much will it generally slow down.? will this make me grow facial hair.? will it make my penis smaller.?Health Question & Answer
Answers:
Read this whole answer - not just the first sentence, please :-)
Yes, there is some slowing of the growth rate with inhaled steroids, especially during the first year with younger users. The medication should be prescribed with consideration of risks vs. benefits.
Now, some explanation. The reduction in rate was about 1/2 inch per year. After several years of use growth difference was less, and study participants were generally expected to achieve normal projected adult height. IOW, the growth was slowed not stopped. You can do a search. I suggest "inhaled steroid growth retardation".
The answer to the last question is no, these are corticosteroids, not anabolic steroids. In typical doses no such effect would be expected. The last question and your age make me believe you are a male who is going to grow facial hair fairly soon anyhow, so probably makes no difference.
If you have asthma and are on inhaled steroids you have probably been on oral steroids at some time, which have a much higher incidence and severity of side effects. The inhaled steroids are actually a big improvement over systemic steroids.
In all cases untreated asthma has a higher rate of short and long term problems than appropriate treatment. In other words, the benefits of treatment outweigh the risks of untreated asthma.Health Question & Answer
Yes, there is some slowing of the growth rate with inhaled steroids, especially during the first year with younger users. The medication should be prescribed with consideration of risks vs. benefits.
Now, some explanation. The reduction in rate was about 1/2 inch per year. After several years of use growth difference was less, and study participants were generally expected to achieve normal projected adult height. IOW, the growth was slowed not stopped. You can do a search. I suggest "inhaled steroid growth retardation".
The answer to the last question is no, these are corticosteroids, not anabolic steroids. In typical doses no such effect would be expected. The last question and your age make me believe you are a male who is going to grow facial hair fairly soon anyhow, so probably makes no difference.
If you have asthma and are on inhaled steroids you have probably been on oral steroids at some time, which have a much higher incidence and severity of side effects. The inhaled steroids are actually a big improvement over systemic steroids.
In all cases untreated asthma has a higher rate of short and long term problems than appropriate treatment. In other words, the benefits of treatment outweigh the risks of untreated asthma.Health Question & Answer
Inhaled steroids reduce inflammation locally. There is very little systemic absorption. Oral Prednisone is the one you might be concerned about, but that is with long term use. You need to rinse your mouth or brush your teeth afterwards, or you can get oral yeast infection/growth that is easily managed by medications. Be sure to wipe your oral inhaler mouthpiece, too.Health Question & Answer
By using an inhaled steroid, rather than an oral one, it makes sure that the medicine stays mainly where it's needed. Very small amounts of it acutally make it into the rest of your body so the side effects that you mentioned should not even be an issure. Health Question & Answer
none of the above. Steroids that are taken orally for long periods of time and in large amounts may have some effects on growth, but not what you are taking. It is fine.Health Question & Answer