My son got an asthma type of condition last winter and may be getting it again. Doctors all recommend steroids. There seem to be some side effects. Does anyone have any alternatives to try, especially natural ones? I hate the fact that my son is becoming dependent on steroids.
I don't have asthma but I have a friend whose daughter does. She takes a whole slew of meds but the one that seems to help her the most is Singulair and as far as I know, this has no steroids. Don't quote me on this since I am not 100% positive. I think the best bet would for you to contact your son's doctor and share your concerns with him/her. I too don't like using steroids on children but I've heard that in these medications that the steroid count is not high enough to cause harm unless it is used constantly and in higher doses such as the heavier duty asthma drugs.
My 3 year old was recently diagnosed with asthma after a year of sympotoms. Her pediatrician told me that a whole year on inhaled pulmicort with the nebulizer was less streroid than one week on the liquid/oral prednisone. The meds are confusing my girl is on 5 and finally we insisted on being sent to a allergy asthma specialist. We go this Friday.
That's great that you taking her to a specialist. Your daughter is on 5 different meds for her asthma??? When my son was around 3 he had seasonal asthma and had to use a nebulizer but I can't remember which med he was on. At first he thought it was cool because it was different but soon he became bored with it and getting him to take was like pulling teeth!
let us know how it goes
let us know how it goes
Cait has a neubulizer and has had it since she was 3 .....she was born with a pneumo thorax and then developed asthma .......She is not having to use this (machine) unless it is extremely humid and she has been running/playing soccer ect. there is a new (to her) inhaler called "Spiriva" it is only needed to be used once every 24 hrs ...........It is my understanding it has no "roids" in it but I will check it out and make sure ....will post on what I find ........I do not like her having to carry 3 inhalers so the doc gave her this, plus the ventolin was making her real shaky and as she said made her feel weird lol.......so this was his answer for that problem ....Now she uses it and I find that it does not cause problems so far and only has to be used once daily as a maintainance med which I like as well as Cait .......Take care all and God Bless ..Lyn
Right you are, Spiriva has no steroids and the main active ingredient is tiotropium which is used to treat bronchospasms. The main thing with this is that Spiriva is to prevent asthma attacks but it will not stop an acute asthma attack.
....Thanks Red will ask the doc for something for the acute attacks as she will get the odd one .......especially in the cold and it snowed here last night ........so the cold air will usually bring problems about .....want to make sure all bases are covered ,........be well .....God Bless ......Lyn