A medication side effect is an unwanted effect that you experience while taking a medicine. All medications can have side effects, especially if they are not taken as prescribed. All prescription medicines have Consumer Medicine Information sheets that list all known possible side effects. Some side effects are common, i.e. they occur in up to 1 in 10 people, and others are very rare and are experienced only by up to 1 in 10,000 people who take that medication. While medications do have side effects they are usually safe if taken properly.
Do asthma medications have side effects?
Many people are concerned about potential side effects of the medication they are prescribed for their asthma. While the medications are generally very safe and used by many people it is important to know about the potential side effects.
Side effects can be local or systemic. Local side effects occur directly on the part of the body affected by the medication. An example would be the hoarseness sometimes experienced when using preventer medication.
Systemic side effects are those effects caused by absorption of the medication into the bloodstream. An example of a systemic side effect is cataracts, which have been linked with long term corticosteroid medication use but are still something that only occurs in the minority of long term medication users.
Don’t stop taking your asthma medication
The most important thing is to be aware of any side effects you experience, and discuss them with your doctor. Some side effects only occur when you first start using the medication, or if you increase your dose. If you are unhappy with the side effects you are experiencing, or are worried about the potential side effects, you must discuss this with your doctor.
Do not stop taking your medication. Stopping your medication may cause you more problems than any side effects, and could lead to an asthma attack. The aim of good medication use in asthma management is for you to take the lowest dose of medication required to keep your asthma under control, with the lowest possible level of side effects.
Side effects linked with specific types of medications are listed below: