Do steroids cause side effects?
Inhaled steroids are very unlikely to cause side effects. The dose of steroid is quite small and inhaled steroids go straight down to the airways so very little is absorbed into the rest of the body. This means that the possibility of side effects from steroid inhalers is very low. There is a small risk of a sore throat or you may feel a bit hoarse. Using your inhaler before brushing your teeth and using a spacer can help reduce this risk. Steroid tablets give a much higher dose of steroid than inhalers. Side effects are unlikely if you use no more than three to four short courses of tablets per year. However, people who need to use steroid tablets more often than this can experience more serious side effects. These include fattened face (moon face), feeling hungry and wanting to eat more, osteoporosis and a slightly increased risk of eye conditions such as glaucoma and cataracts. For more information on steroids, see our booklet Steroids for Asthma.
