If my asthma responds more to steroids rather than albuterol/xopenex, what does that point to?

[Luke]

Does that mean that most of my problem could be related to just my lungs being weak when they get colds and flus, and other infections, and swelling up, and producing mucus, etc,.....much more so than actual broncho-constriction?

Because, I rarely seem to really have actual broncho-spasms, and when I take xopenex or albuterol during an asthma episode, it really doesn't do all that much. I feel a bit more open, and easier to breathe, i don't have to fight as much, but the same amount of soreness, heaviness, inflammation and mucus is still there.

Then as soon as I take some prednisone, I feel about 80% better in an hour or two, like it just completely obliterated my asthma. But after I stop taking prednisone, a week later or so, it's back again, and the controller meds aren't really THAT effective.

even little things like nasonex, or my controller symbicort, help my asthma alot more than the xopenex/albuterol, but they alone can't seem to do much.


I also take zyrtec and singulair daily which seem to do absolutely nothing, or minimal.



does this mean that my asthma is BAD, or just more inflammation related?

[tinmuning]

Steroids are usually given for severe asthma. However, they are only taken for a short course for this particular purpose (maximum of 4 weeks). They are stopped when the asthma has gotten better and other treatments suffice to keep it under control. Longer periods of treatment and continuous treatment with oral steroids are generally avoided except for the most difficult-to-control asthma because of the undesirable side effects that often develop with prolonged oral steroid treatment.