Inhaled corticosteroid: Class Overview and Comparison
Quick answer: Inhaled corticosteroid are a class of medicines used for specific therapeutic indications. iMedic covers 7 inhaled corticosteroid substances. Below is a comparison table linking to detailed pages for each.
Inhaled corticosteroid on iMedic (7 substances)
| Substance | Primary indications | Mechanism | Common dose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aerobec | Asthma, COPD | Beclometasone dipropionate is a glucocorticoid that reduces airway inflammation | 100-400 mcg twice daily inhaled |
| Aerobec Autohaler | Asthma | Beclometasone dipropionate delivered via breath-actuated autohaler reduces airwa | 100-400 mcg twice daily inhaled |
| Alvesco | Asthma maintenance therapy | Inhaled glucocorticoid prodrug (ciclesonide) activated in lung tissue to reduce | 80-320 mcg inhaled once or twice daily |
| Beclofor | Asthma, Allergic rhinitis | Synthetic glucocorticoid that reduces airway inflammation by suppressing cytokin | 100-400 mcg inhaled twice daily |
| Budesonid Laboratorios Liconsa | Asthma, COPD | Synthetic glucocorticoid that suppresses airway inflammation via glucocorticoid | 200-800 mcg inhaled twice daily |
| Budesonide Teva Pharma | Asthma, COPD | Glucocorticoid receptor agonist that reduces airway inflammation by suppressing | 200-800 mcg twice daily (inhaled) |
| Ciclesonide | Asthma, Allergic rhinitis | Prodrug corticosteroid activated in lung tissue that suppresses airway inflammat | 80-320 mcg inhaled once or twice daily |
About Inhaled corticosteroid
Inhaled corticosteroid share a common mechanism of action and clinical use. Specific dosing, side effects, contraindications, and drug interactions vary between individual substances within the class. Click any substance above for full prescribing information and patient guidance.
Common considerations across the class
- Indication-specific selection: Different members may be preferred for different conditions or patient populations
- Dose equivalence: Members of the same class are not always interchangeable on a 1:1 dose basis
- Drug interactions: Class members often share interaction profiles (e.g., CYP enzyme effects) but individual variation matters
- Side effects: Some side effects are class-wide; others are substance-specific
- Contraindications: Individual contraindications may not generalize across the class
Always consult the prescribing information for the specific medicine prescribed and discuss with your clinician.
Frequently asked questions
What are Inhaled corticosteroid?
Inhaled corticosteroid are medicines that share a common mechanism of action used for specific therapeutic indications. iMedic currently covers 7 substances in this class with detailed pages for each.
Are all Inhaled corticosteroid interchangeable?
No. While medicines in the same class share a mechanism, they differ in potency, dosing, drug interactions, and tolerability. Switching between them is a clinical decision based on individual response, side effects, and treatment goals.
How do I choose between different Inhaled corticosteroid?
Selection depends on the specific clinical indication, patient factors (age, comorbidities, kidney/liver function, other medications), tolerability of side effects, cost, and clinician preference. This is a prescribing decision.
Are Inhaled corticosteroid available as generics?
Most well-established class members are available as generic alternatives, often substantially less expensive than brand-name versions while clinically equivalent. Newer members may still be brand-only.
Last reviewed: by iMedic Medical Editorial Team. Our editorial process.