Community Pediatric Asthma Service

oral steroids 3

Oral Corticosteroids

Sometimes asthma symptoms worsen
and cannot be controlled with your 
inhaled corticosteroid medicine alone.  
Oral corticosteroids are used to treat 
severe asthma attacks.

You may be prescribed extra corticosteroid 
therapy in a pill or liquid form, often taken for 
3-5 days to help reduce swelling/inflammation.


Oral corticosteroids are "add-on" medicines

They usually get asthma under control quickly...

  • and this allows you to start feeling well sooner

They are called "add-ons"...

  • which means they are taken in addition to your regular inhaled corticosteroids

Once the flare-up is controlled...

  • you can return to your regular treatment of inhaled corticosteroid medicine

Common names for oral corticosteroids...

  • for asthma are Dexamethasone, Pediapred, Prednisone and Predisolone

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If you have specific questions, please consult your doctor or appropriate health care professional.