Corticosteroids for asthma control

amother

OP ↓

Wed, Jul 17 2024, 4:22 pm

My dd 14 was having bad asthma symptoms this year and the pulmonologist put her on Symbicort. BH it has brought her a lot of relief and is working well. However, it has increased her appetite a lot and so she is gaining weight and the dentist just told me she has many cavities that seem to be due to the Symbicort. She instructed my dd how to brush after the inhaler and all but I’m wondering if anyone’s child had reactions to corticosteroids and was able to find an alternative solution and able to wean the child off

yachnabobba

Wed, Jul 17 2024, 7:24 pm

I am in the pediatric pulmonary field for well over a decade. The is not a snowballs chance in a warm day that an inhaled corticosteroid is causing weight gain. The mouth thing is true. Use biotene or similar oral rinse after each dose. We use inhaled steroids to avoid systemic side effects which would come from Ora pred /pediapred or similar

amother

Milk

Wed, Jul 17 2024, 7:25 pm

I’m on symbicort for years. I never heard of it increasing appetite. It’s inhaled and not systemic. You always need to rinse your mouth out after using a controller inhaler. I use it before I brush my teeth morning and night.

amother

Diamond

Wed, Jul 17 2024, 7:28 pm

If she uses a spacer with the inhaler, and keeps her mouth closed, I assume the medication won't get to her teeth.

bnm

Wed, Jul 17 2024, 9:04 pm

Rinse your mouth twice after taking it. Ask if your insurance would pay for something else like Qvar.

amother

Banana

Wed, Jul 17 2024, 10:43 pm

My insurance stopped paying for qvar this year.
My doctor recommended switching him to asmanex. But it’s really annoying to have to fix something that isn’t broken. Sorry off topic.

amother

↑ OP

Thu, Jul 18 2024, 2:28 pm

Thanks for the replies. It’s possible the extra appetite is because she can actually breathe well now bH.
I’m not familiar with the different medications- how is qvar different than symbicort?

amother

Amaryllis ↓

Thu, Jul 18 2024, 4:16 pm

Google tells me weight gain is rare but not unheard of with this medication.

Ds was on another steroid that was supposed to stay local to the gut (budesonide) and he definitely gained some weight in his face (moon face) and his neck/back. His drs were like yeah it's supposed to stay local but we all know some of it leaves the gut and has systemic effects.

amother

Obsidian

Thu, Jul 18 2024, 4:47 pm

My son was on Symbicort for a while there was no weight gain (although wish there was). He was also on asmanex and Flovent none of them caused weight gain.

amother

Wandflower

Fri, Jul 19 2024, 6:00 am

amother Amaryllis wrote:

Inhaled steroids don’t reach the gut. That’s the point

amother

↑ Amaryllis

Fri, Jul 19 2024, 6:18 am

amother Wandflower wrote:

Inhaled steroids don’t reach the gut. That’s the point

Yes but they can be absorbed into the bloodstream via the lungs and have systemic effects that way

marineparkmom

Fri, Jul 19 2024, 11:26 am

Maybe she gained weight because she can finally breathe so she can finally eat normally
Maybe it’s regular puberty

The studies show that its is beyond extremely rare for inhalers to cause weight gain. The studies also show that inhaler are the best way to control asthma. So honestly if the inhaler is working stick with it.

Personally, I am extremely grateful my parents treated my asthma as a child with daily preventative inhalers because now as an adult I don’t have asthma .

Also speak with your doctor if you are concerned.

cutekids

Fri, Jul 19 2024, 11:48 am

My son has been on symibort for years and is very skinny, no weight gain at all.. No cavities. Was told to rinse mouth after using to prevent canker sores in the mouth