Asthma Controllers are Long-term Medications
Thursday, July 9, 2009 at 12:26PM Many times I have been asked about how long inhaled steroids should be taken. The National Institute of Health (NIH) addressed this issue in a recent update to their guidelines for asthma management.
Generally speaking, NIH asthma guidelines recommend 3 or more months of well-controlled asthma before stepping down or off controllers. So, how do you know if you have well controlled asthma?
•· Do you reach for your rescue inhaler less than 3 times per week?
•· Do you have shortness of breath less than 3 times per week?
•· Do you rarely have middle of the night asthma symptoms (less than 3 times per month)?
•· Is your Peak Flow Rate or FEV-1 (a component of the Pulmonary function Test) >80% of what would be expected?
•· Do you feel that you have no limitations at work, home or school with respect to asthma symptoms?
•· Is your ACT (Asthma Control Test) score greater than 19?
Based on your answers to the above questions you should have a good idea about your own asthma control. Remember, all of the above criteria should be met, for three or more consecutive months before the consideration of medication reduction. This is a decision your doctor must make (not you) when it comes to controller medication.
Want to take the ACT test? (Click Here!)