Patient was educated on contraindications for using steroid inhalers as follows:
- Opportunistic infection
- Steroid inhalers should be used cautiously in individuals with history of opportunistic infections, as it can result in flaring up of infections, such as, candida, secondary bacterial and viral infections.
- Discuss with your doctor regarding your history of opportunistic infections and safety with the use of these inhalers.
- Carefully watch for any throat irritation, undiagnosed productive cough, fever, stomach upset, white patches on the tongue and in the oral cavity, while using steroid inhalers.
- Report any of such findings to your physician.
- Compliance with gargling and rinsing the mouth with water, after every dose of steroid inhalation and spitting out this water after rinsing, is very important to prevent exacerbation of these opportunistic infections.
- Osteoporosis
- Use of steroid inhalers should be avoided or restricted in individuals with history of osteoporosis, as use of steroids in such individuals can result in further loss of bone mass and deterioration of osteoporosis with weakening of the skeletal framework and pathological fractures.
- Carefully watch for any exacerbation of bone pain and report any such finding to your physician immediately.
