While many of you know that using your inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) is an essential part of your asthma treatment, many adults do not regularly take their medication as prescribed.

A recent study found that 70% of asthmatics report regularly using their ICS when not having asthma symptoms. Believing that it was important to use ICS when not having asthma was the strongest predictor  of regularly taking medication, while being worried about potential side effects of ICS was predective of not taking your medication as directed. Similarly, the authors found that confidence in your abilty to properly use ICS was predictive of compliance with your medical regimen, while feeling your ICS treatment plan was hard to follow was predictive of non-compliance.

What does this mean for me:

• Believing that ICS use is an  important part of your asthma plan is key to sticking to your ICS regimen. If you are unsure why it is important talk with your doctor.
• If you are unsure how to use your ICS medications or think your ICS regimen is difficult to follow, discuss your asthma action plan with your asthma doctor and ask them to demonstrate ICS use for you.
• Openly discuss your concerns about side effects with your doctor. While no medication is 100% safe, many ICS side effects are preventable and most patients do not experience significant side effects.

Why do you think you are compliant or not with your ICS? Leave a comment or go to the forum and join the discussion.

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