Talking to Parents About Inhaled Corticosteroids (ICSs)

Asthma can be challenging for both young patients and their families.¹⁴ You can help address caregivers’ concerns and help ensure that patients receive the appropriate treatment with a frank discussion about the disease, the need for adequate control, and the risks and benefits of treatment.^1,14

Importance of adequate control

Undertreated and uncontrolled asthma can pose real risks for pediatric patients. These risks can mean multiple doctor visits and emergency rescue treatments.¹⁵

One way to talk to parents is to be clear with them about the difference between controller and rescue medications. It’s also important to explain why NHLBI/NAEPP guidelines¹ recommend ICSs as the first-line treatment for persistent asthma of any severity and to be sure they understand how to define and assess control. Below are some topics that can help you have a good conversation.¹

Corticosteroids vs anabolic steroids

Be sure parents, who may have negative associations with the term “steroids,” understand the medication in ICSs. It is important to help them understand that corticosteroids and anabolic steroids are chemically different. Explain that corticosteroids are used to treat inflammation and irritation in the airways and are not associated with anabolic steroids, which are known to be misused by some athletes to improve strength and muscle mass.¹⁶

Benefits of ICS treatment

Be sure caregivers understand the benefits of asthma control and treatment with ICSs,¹ such as PULMICORT REPULES, including reduction in nighttime and daytime symptoms,^2,3 reduced need for rescue medications,^4,6 and the fact that they target an underlying cause of asthma — inflammation.^7,8,9

Risks associated with ICS treatment

Adverse events associated with ICS treatment, such as PULMICORT RESPULES, must be considered in the context of the benefits of asthma control. Two key potential risks parents should be aware of are HPA-axis suppression and a possible effect on growth.¹ Learn about the demonstrated safety of PULMICORT RESPULES, including information about these potential concerns.

Nebulization and flexible dosing options

While using a jet nebulizer may seem daunting to parents or caregivers at first, be sure they are aware of the benefits. Delivery is less dependent on patient coordination. By simply breathing through a nebulizer, patients get the medication in PULMICORT RESPULES to the lungs. And with PULMICORT RESPULES, nebulization can take as little as 5 minutes (although, depending on the compressor, it can take between 5 and 10).^17,23 Even while understanding the benefits, some parents or caregivers may seem reluctant to use a jet nebulizer. Moms Guide to Nebulizing (PDF) and Caring for Your Jet Nebulizer (PDF) are two patient resources that may be able to help. They provide insight from other parents along with simple tips to help make nebulizing easier.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) recognizes the nebulizer as an effective delivery method for infants and young children.¹ Nebulized PULMICORT RESPULES can help put asthma control within reach.

PULMICORT RESPULES offers flexible dosing options, meaning that, if appropriate, physicians may prescribe a once-daily option, possibly at bedtime, to help reduce daytime and nightime symptoms.²³

PULMICORT RESPULES is not a bronchodilator and is not indicated for relief of acute bronchospasm.²³