Long-Term Use of Inhaled Steroids for Asthma May Harm Eyes

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Inhaled Steroids May Raise Cataract

Risk

Long-Term Use of Inhaled Steroids for Asthma May Harm

Eyes

Sept.

2003 -- Older adults who use inhaled steroids to manage their asthma may be

slightly more likely to develop cataracts than others, a new study suggests.

Researchers

say the benefits of using inhaled steroids in maintaining healthy airways for

people with asthma must be weighed against this potential side effect. But they

say older people with asthma should ask for the lowest possible dose necessary

to manage their disease in order to reduce their risk of cataracts.

Inhaled

steroids, which are inhaled through the mouth, are common daily asthma

treatments used to prevent asthma attacks and reduce inflammation in the lungs.

Researchers

say previous research has shown that steroids that are taken as pills or

delivered intravenously (by vein) increase the risk of cataracts, or clouding

of the clear lens that covers the eye. But this is the first study to examine

whether inhaled steroids also

carry a risk of cataracts.

Inhaled Steroids Raise Cataract Risk

For the

study, researchers compared use of inhaled steroids among a sample of 15,500

people over 40 years old in England

and Wales who

had cataracts and an equal number of people without them.

They

found that about 11.5% of people with cataracts had been prescribed inhaled

steroids compared with about 7.5% of those without the condition.

The study

showed that the risk of cataract seemed to increase along with higher doses of

the drugs.

There was

little or no increased risk among those who took the lowest daily dose of about

400 mcg, but the increase in risk rose to about 70% for those taking the

highest dose (1,600 mcg per day).

Different

inhaled steroids have varying amounts of medication per inhalation. Therefore,

it may take six puffs or 36 puffs to achieve this dose, depending on the

strength of your inhaler.

The

increase in cataract risk was also higher among those who had taken inhaled

steroids for longer periods of time.

The

results appear in the October issue of the British

Journal of Ophthalmology.

Much Love,

Deanna

LUPUS Serenity Prayer...

Lord,

grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to

change the things I can, and the wisdom to hide the bodies of doctors I shot

when they said, You're perfectly healthy, it's all in your head "