Steroid medications are the mainstay of treatment for people with asthma, notes the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Steroids--either inhaled, taken orally or given intravenously--reduce airway inflammation and allow more air to move into the lungs. Like any medication, steroids can have serious side effects, especially when taken over the long term, as may be necessary in people with severe asthma.
Oral Complications
Inhaled steroids used to reduce inflammation in asthma can cause dry mouth, throat irritation, cough, voice hoarseness and oral thrush, a fungal infection, according to Gregory Rose, M.D. of the University of Washington. Rinsing the mouth after using the inhaler can help decrease the risk of thrush, says the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.
Ocular Complications
Long-term use of inhaled or oral steroids for asthma may cause eye problems such as glaucoma, or high intraocular pressure, which can result in optic nerve damage and lead to blindness and cataracts, a haziness of the lens capsule that make vision less clear.
Skin and Bone Effects
Long-term steroid use for asthma can cause bones to become less dense, or osteoporotic. Aseptic necrosis of the bone, or destruction of the bone even though no infection is present, may also occur. Long-term use in children may also affect growth, although studies show that long-term steroid use in children with asthma does not decrease adult height, notes MayoClinic.com.
Skin may thin and bruise more easily after long term steroid use and wounds heal more slowly. Fat may redistribute around the face, abdomen neck and shoulders; fat deposits on the neck give the appearance of a "buffalo hump" in some people. Facial swelling, with puffy cheeks may occur, along with weight gain from fluid retention. Excess facial hair growth may affect women.
Gastrointestinal Effects
Use of steroids, even for a short time, can cause stomach upset or bloating. Conversely, steroids use can also increase appetite, according to the Partners Asthma Center.
Mood Swings
Steroids can cause mood changes even when taken for just a short time during an acute asthma attack, states Partners Asthma Center. Difficulty sleeping, trouble concentrating, a short temper, mood swings and, rarely, steroid-induced psychosis, or break from reality, may occur.
Diabetes
People who take steroids for any amount of time may develop diabetes which may be temporary and disappear when steroids are stopped, or permanent.
