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How the Flunisolide Inhaler Works and Discussing It With Your Doctor
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You should talk with your healthcare provider prior to using the medication if you have:
- Not had chickenpox or the measles (or have not been vaccinated against them)
- Eczema (or atopic dermatitis)
- Tuberculosis, herpes, or any other infections
- Glaucoma or cataracts
- Any allergies, including allergies to food, dyes, or preservatives.
Also, let your healthcare provider know if you are:
- Pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant (see Aerobid and Pregnancy)
- Breastfeeding (see Aerobid and Breastfeeding).
You should also make sure to tell your healthcare provider about all other medicines you may be taking, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
(Click Precautions and Warnings With Flunisolide Inhalers for more information on this topic, including information on who should not use the inhaler.)
Normally, air moves easily into and out of the lungs through a network of airways. If you have asthma, however, the inside walls of your airways are inflamed (swollen). The inflammation makes the airways very sensitive, and they tend to react strongly to things that you are allergic to or find irritating (see Asthma Triggers). When the airways react, a few things happen: the muscles around these airways tighten, inflammation inside the airways increases, and cells inside the airways produce more mucus. This narrows the airways and makes it harder to breathe.
The flunisolide inhaler is an asthma medication that belongs to a group of drugs called inhaled corticosteroids, or steroids for short. Inhaled steroids go directly into the lungs and help to decrease the inflammation of airways that makes asthma attacks more likely. Because flunisolide inhalers do not work quickly, they should not be used for treating an asthma attack. Rather, they are used twice a day in order to prevent asthma attacks.
Because flunisolide inhalers are inhaled directly into the lungs, the rest of the body is exposed to lower steroid levels, compared to steroids taken by mouth. This helps reduce or eliminate many of the side effects associated with long-term steroid use.
(Click Asthma Treatment for information about other medicines used for treating asthma.)
The flunisolide inhaler is not an asthma cure.
Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD