Azmacort

Who is Azmacort for ?

Azmacort, a corticosteroid, is used to prevent wheezing, shortness of breath, and troubled breathing caused by severe asthma and other lung diseases. Azmacort is sometimes prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Azmacort suppresses your body's production of substances that trigger inflammation and reduces the production of substances that maintain inflammation.

When should I be careful taking Azmacort ?

If you are switching (or have recently switched) from Azmacort (or another oral corticosteroid such as betamethasone, dexamethasone, methylprednisolone, prednisolone, or prednisone) to Azmacort and have an injury, infection, or severe asthma attack, take a full dose (even if you have been gradually decreasing your dose) of Azmacort (or the other oral corticosteroid) and call your doctor for additional instructions. Carry an identification card that indicates that you may need to take supplementary doses (write down the full dose you took before gradually decreasing it) of the corticosteroid during periods of stress (injuries, infections, and severe asthma attacks). Ask your pharmacist or doctor how to obtain this card. List your name, medical problems, drugs and dosages, and doctor's name and telephone number on the card.

Before using Azmacort,

• tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to Azmacort or any other drugs.
• tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications you are taking, especially arthritis medications, aspirin, digoxin (Lanoxin), diuretics ("water pills"), estrogen (Premarin), ketoconazole (Nizoral), oral contraceptives, phenobarbital, phenytoin (Dilantin), rifampin (Rifadin), theophylline (Theo-Dur), and vitamins.
• if you have a fungal infection (other than on your skin), do not take Azmacort without talking to your doctor.
• tell your doctor if you have or have ever had liver, kidney, intestinal, or heart disease; diabetes; an underactive thyroid gland; high blood pressure; mental illness; myasthenia gravis; osteoporosis; herpes eye infection; seizures; or ulcers.
• tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. If you become pregnant while using Azmacort, call your doctor.
• if you have a history of ulcers or take large doses of aspirin or other arthritis medication, limit your consumption of alcoholic beverages while taking this drug. Azmacort makes your stomach and intestines more susceptible to the irritating effects of alcohol, aspirin, and certain arthritis medications. This effect increases your risk of ulcers.

Azmacort Side Effects

Although side effects from Azmacort are not common, they can occur. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

• dry or irritated throat and mouth
• cough
• difficult or painful speech

If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately:

• skin rash
• increased difficulty breathing
• white spots or sores in your mouth
• swollen face, lower legs, or ankles
• vision problems
• cold or infection that lasts a long time
• muscle weakness