Steroid inhaler side effect
I know this might sound crazy, but wanted to see if anyone had a similar experience. My 8 year old recently started using a steroid inhaler. His asthma is pretty mild, but the doctor gave him a fairly moderate dose. It’s been about six months and we had to stop at one point for 6 weeks b/c of a possible side effect before switching to different inhaler. He’s been on this inhaler now for five weeks (right after trying an diff one for a month). He has told me that in the past few weeks he’s noticed that his vision is blurry. Is it possible for blurry vision a side effect for steroid inhalers? I’ve seen it listed as one, but I was assuming it was in relation to cataracts and those sorts of issues. Not sure what to make of it.
Hi MPT13, thank you for your post. This doesn’t sound crazy at all! As you may know, steroid inhalers are a top-line treatment for asthma, helping many gain better control. Since the medicine is inhaled directly into the lungs rather than going through the entire body, side effects are typically minimal.
That said, each of us responds differently to medications. While rare, blurred vision can be a potential side effect of steroid inhalers, especially with high doses over a long period. However, it’s important to remember that every asthmatic may experience side effects differently. Have you considered having your son see an eye doctor to rule out any potential vision issues related to your medication? All the best. John. community moderator.
Thank you. Yes, I will definitely have him checked out by an eye doctor. It just seems suspicious of the timing of it. And this same inhaler made him grow excess hair all down his back, which his pulm thought was absolutely not from inhaler. But we stopped it and the hair eventually disappeared. So I guess you never know. Strange things happen. Thanks again….You are welcome. And, as you say, strange things sure do happen. And, as I've learned through my 54 years on this Earth, moms often know more about their children than doctors do. So, if you suspect it was the inhaler, it's probably a good idea that you had your son stop using it. Keep up the good work. Please do keep us posted how it goes and what medicines you end up trying -- and what your son's eye doctor has to say. Wishing you all the best. John. community moderator.
