And there are those asthmatics who refuse to take steroids because of the nasty side effects. I'd rather be wheezing and steroid free. With a serevent inhaler, for the first time in my life, I felt like I didn't have asthma. Then when the inhaler was deemed an ENVIROMENTAL hazard, the company switch to the discus, which dumps some powder on my tongue, but isn't anywhere near as effective, but still better than Advair!! I would rather take my chances with serevent than with any steroid drug!!! Wish we could sign a form releasing the drug company from responsibility if we chose to use their product.
Steroids taken systemically (as a pill or a shot) can have nasty side effects. Inhaled steroids are similar to using steroid creams on the skin: they do not have systemic side effects. And, it is NOT recommended to use Serevent without inhaled steroids. Believe me.
the reason to use inhaled steroids is that they don't cause the side effects of oral steroids. And the steroids prevent the edema from the allergic process that contributes to deaths in asthmatics.
If you wheeze without allergic componant, don't use steroids. If you have mild asthma with an allergic component, use Singulair to block this secondary reaction (due to leukotrienes).
But if you use your inhalers more than twice a week, you need to use something to prevent wheezing.
I only use Serevent, and agree with you there. But during hayfever season, I add local steroids since anti histoamines and even Singulair make me sleepy...(I even get sleepy with Clariten). So I use steroids as a first line during allergy season, but the rest of the year, I don't, I only use singulair when it's bad, and Serevent when I wheeze, since I can't tolorate the jitteryness from Albuterol.