Ask the Nurse

Is it true that certain asthma medications can increase the risk of osteoporosis?

Maggie, Mayo

Long-term use of corticosteroids, especially at higher doses, increases the risk of osteoporosis. Corticosteroids are antiinflammatory medications often used to treat asthma, e.g. beclomethasone. If you have asthma and your doctor prescribes a corticosteroid, you will likely take it as an aerosol through an inhaler. When used daily, inhaled corticosteroids reduce the number and severity of asthma attacks.

Corticosteroids may also be taken by injection or in pill form (orally), usually for severe asthma or an acute asthma attack. The risk of osteoporosis is lower with inhaled corticosteroids than with oral or intravenous corticosteroids. This is because inhaled forms require smaller doses of corticosteroids and deliver the medication directly to your lungs. If you are using a metered-dose-inhaler form of corticosteroid, be sure to use a spacer and gargle with water afterwards. It is important to spit out this water. This reduces the amount of drug that can be swallowed and absorbed into your body.

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