By skyforbes 
How long steroids for asthma stay in your system depends on the type of drug you are taking. For example, it can differ whether you’re taking an inhaled medication such as Advair (fluticasone and salmeterol) or an oral corticosteroid (e.g., prednisone). A steroid medication’s half-life determines how long it circulates in your body.
This article will go over how the half-life of steroid medication works. It also covers what factors might affect how long steroids for asthma stay in your system.
Hugo Lin / Verywell
What Is the Half-Life of Steroids?
When you take a dose of your medication, the “half-life” refers to how long it takes your body to clear half of the total dose. A medication’s half-life determines how often you’ll need to take it.
Different types of asthma medications have different half-lives.
Half-life is mainly related to the properties of the drug, but each person’s body is unique. Even if someone takes the same medication at the same dose as you, their body might metabolize it differently.
There are several factors can affect the half-life of a drug, including:
- Age
- Sex
- Body weight and composition
- Diet and hydration
- Lifestyle factors (e.g., smoking, substance use)
- Liver disease
- Blood circulation
- Kidney function
- Other health conditions (e.g., pregnancy)
- Medications, supplements, and herbal remedies
Steroids Used for Asthma
Oral corticosteroids (sometimes referred to as oral steroids or by a generic name like prednisone) are a group of powerful anti-inflammatory medications.
You might be prescribed steroids if your asthma symptoms are getting worse. You may need to take the drugs for several days to get your symptoms under control.
Updated Guidelines
Many patients with mild persistent asthma are prescribed inhaled steroids to be taken daily to control their asthma symptoms.
Newer guidelines also allow for inhaled corticosteroids to be taken intermittently with a quick acting inhaler when symptoms begin in patients with mild asthma. It is not recommended to stop taking medications used to control your asthma without talking with your physician first. If you have a question about whether you may benefit from a different regimen, talk with your doctor before making changes.
Oral corticosteroids reduce inflammation throughout the entire body (systemic). Inhaled steroids act mostly in the lungs (localized) which reduces the risk of side effects being felt throughout the whole body.
| Half-Lives of Common Asthma Medications | ||
|---|---|---|
| Class | Medication | Half-Life |
| Relievers | ||
| Short-acting ß2-agonists | albuterol | 4 to 6 hours |
| Anticholinergic | ipratropium bromide | 3 to 5 hours |
| Methylxanthine | theophylline | 3 to 13 hours |
| Controllers | ||
| Glucocorticosteroids (inhaled) | fluticasone | 14 hours |
| budesonide | 2 to 3 hours | |
| beclomethasone | 15 hours | |
| Glucocorticosteroids (oral/intravenous) | prednisone | 3 to 4 hours |
| Long-acting ß2-agonists | formoterol | 8 to 10 hours |
| salmeterol | 5.5 hours | |
Side Effects of Oral Steroids
The most important differences between oral corticosteroids and inhaled steroids is the likelihood of significant side effects.
The side effects of oral steroids include:
Side effects with oral steroids are more likely than side effects with inhaled steroids because of the quantity of steroid taken orally.
Overuse of Oral Steroids
It’s important to mention any recent steroid bursts (the use of a short course of oral steroids) to your healthcare provider. Overuse of oral steroids may prevent your adrenal gland (where your body’s natural steroids are made) from working as it should. If this happens, your body may not make steroids well enough during a time of stress and you may need to have them supplemented.
Side Effects of Inhaled Steroids
Inhaled steroids rarely cause systemic side effects like oral steroids. However, you may have local side effects like:
- Thrush (oral candidiasis)
- Hoarseness
You can often prevent these side effects by rinsing your mouth and gargling after using an inhaled steroid, as well as using a spacer device that delivers measured doses.
A Word From Verywell
Inhaled corticosteroids are part of many asthma maintenance plans. When taking them, make sure to go over the proper inhaler technique with your pharmacist to ensure the drug works as intended. You should also talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist about any concerns you have about taking steroids. They can make sure you understand how to safely use the medications as well as give you tips for avoiding side effects.
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