Steroids, clarifying a misconception.

For many asthmatics steroids form an important part of their asthma treatment, for some they are literally a life saver. Steroids are mainly administered via inhalers for example flixotide, budesonide, beclomethosone, symbicort and so forth. During acute phases of asthma steroid tablets or hydrocortisone may be needed. In rare cases asthma patients may need to take steroid tablets daily.

They have the potential to be a pretty nasty drug carrying lots of side effects, these almost always only arise from taking steroids tablets or high doses of inhaled steroids, in most cases were steroids are administered via the inhaled route the amount that enters the blood stream is minuscule if at all any.

Much has been made of in the press that Raoul Moat was addicted to steroids and that this may of contributed to his "rampage" and his mental health issues. The idea for this post was was formed in my mind the other day when my colleague commented, "Best be careful Louise, you might be the next with all the steroids you take".

I then proceeded to explain to him what I am going to to explain to you now, many people do not realise that there is more than one type of steroid and the steroid that he was abusing was very different to the one used to treat asthma and many other conditions but, the press fail as they often do, to make this clear. Right now I am guessing there may be people fearing the drugs they are taking, making them reluctant to take them and thus putting their health and lives at risk, at the same time there may well be loved ones scared about there mental health in light of what they have seen and read over the the past few days.

To clarify the facts the steroids used to treat asthma and many other other conditions are known as glucoorticoid steroids which, incidentaly also naturally produced by the the body. The form of steroid abused by Raoul Moat was anabolic steroid, this also has its medical uses but is frequently abused by body builders and its possession is illegal except of course for medical use.

I hope that anyone with concerns regarding the steroids they or their loved ones, work colleagues etc are prescribed now feel at least a little bit reassured that your/their medication, prescribed by the GP or specialist does not carry with it the added potential of causing you/them to go rampaging around Britain's highways, byways and countryside.