- Used to prevent asthma attacks
- Used to clear the airways and help a person breathe more easily
Azmacort is the brand name for the generic drug Triamcinolone which used to be produced by Abbott Laboratories. The company discontinued production and stopped distributing it on the 31st of December 2009. This was due to the fact that this inhaler contained chlorofluorocarbons or CFCs and according to the international environment protection convention – the Montreal Protocol – medical products containing certain CFCs had to go and Azmacort contained it so it went off the market. However, there has been a hue and cry from the public, many of whom had been using it for years and they felt there was no real substitute for this brand. It was available in a metered dose aerosol that contained 60 mg of the drug and each actuation delivered 200 mcg.
Indications
Azmacort was used to prevent the symptoms of asthma. It was meant to be used on a regular basis to keep asthma at bay and not to relieve the symptoms of a full-blown attack.
Action
This drug is a glucocorticoid which is a steroid and it stops inflammation in the body by preventing the release of the substances in the body that cause the inflammation.
Side Effects
As with most steroids, while many people might get a lot of relief from using it, there could be some who suffer from side effects and while most of them are slight and pass, there could be some serious ones that will need immediate medical attention. The minor ones are stomach upsets, sore or hoarse throat, a stuffy nose and cough, dry mouth, throat or nose and nausea. The more serious ones are joint pain, discomfort during urination, weight loss, ungainly weight gain in different parts of the body, numbness and muscular weakness, breathing difficulty with wheezing, weakness and extreme fatigue. In the minor cases, many of them disappear after a couple of weeks, once the body has got used to the medication. However, any side effect must be reported to the doctor so he can tell you what to do.
Caution
Your doctor will want to know your medical and family history before he prescribes drugs like these. He will want to know about any substance abuse or smoking as well as any medication, vitamins or supplements that you are taking. Any ailments, surgery or procedures you might have had should be listed as well as any allergies and any medication that did not agree with you. To prevent the mouth and throat side effects, your doctor might tell you to rinse out your mouth and gargle well with water so it helps. If you do this after every time you use the inhaler, you could feel better.
Contraindications
Steroids tend to weaken the immune system so you should be careful not to go too close to people who are suffering from them. It would help if pregnant women and nursing mothers stayed off these drugs but in an emergency, you should be under a doctor’s supervision so no harm comes to the baby you are expecting or feeding. Prescribed dosages must be strictly followed unless the doctor changes it and these drugs should not be discontinued suddenly. It helps to carry a medical card in case of emergencies and it should state that you are taking steroids.