Alvesco (ciclesonide) is a brand-name inhaled corticosteroid that’s prescribed for asthma in adults and certain children. As with other drugs, Alvesco can cause side effects, including headache and throat pain.

Alvesco can cause certain side effects, some of which are more common than others. These side effects may be temporary, lasting a few days to weeks. However, if the side effects last longer than that, bother you, or become severe, be sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

These are just a few of the more common side effects reported by people who took Alvesco in clinical trials:

  • headache
  • swelling in your nose and throat
  • swelling in your sinuses
  • pain in your throat
  • upper respiratory infection, such as the common cold

Mild side effects can occur with Alvesco use. This list doesn’t include all possible mild side effects of the drug. For more information, you can refer to Alvesco’s prescribing information.

Mild side effects that have been reported with Alvesco include:

  • headache
  • swelling in your nose and throat
  • swelling in your sinuses
  • pain in your throat
  • upper respiratory infection, such as the common cold
  • pain in your arms, legs, back, or joints
  • nasal congestion
  • cough
  • dry mouth
  • fungal infection in the mouth or throat (thrush)

These side effects may be temporary, lasting a few days to weeks. However, if the side effects last longer than that, bother you, or become severe, be sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Note: After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks and reviews side effects of the medication. If you develop a side effect while taking Alvesco and want to tell the FDA about it, visit MedWatch.

Alvesco may cause serious side effects. The list below may not include all possible serious side effects of the drug. For more information, you can refer to Alvesco’s prescribing information.

If you develop serious side effects while taking Alvesco, call your doctor right away. If the side effects seem life threatening or you think you’re having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.

Serious side effects that have been reported and their symptoms include:

  • Adrenal insufficiency, which may include symptoms such as:
    • excessive tiredness or weakness
    • dizziness
    • nausea and vomiting that do not go away
  • Cataracts, which may include symptoms such as:
    • blurry vision
    • double vision
    • trouble seeing at night
  • Glaucoma, which may include symptoms such as:
    • gradual vision loss
    • tunnel vision
  • Increased risk for infection. Symptoms of an infection can include:
    • fever
    • aches and pains
    • nausea and vomiting
  • Loss of bone mineral density (not likely to cause immediate symptoms but increases risk of osteoporosis and broken bones over time)
  • Paradoxical bronchospasm*
  • Slowed growth in children*

* For more information about this side effect, see “Side effect specifics” below.

ALLERGIC REACTION

For some people, Alvesco can cause an allergic reaction.

This side effect wasn’t reported in the drug’s studies but has happened since Alvesco was approved for use.

In general, symptoms of allergic reaction can be mild or serious. You can learn more about possible symptoms in this article.

Ways to manage

For mild allergic reaction symptoms, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. They may recommend treatments to help manage your symptoms. They’ll also let you know whether you should keep taking the medication.

For severe allergic reaction symptoms, such as swelling or trouble breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms require immediate medical care because they can become life threatening. If you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to Alvesco, your doctor may recommend taking a different medication instead.

Alvesco may cause several side effects. Here are some frequently asked questions about the drug’s side effects and their answers.

Can Alvesco cause anxiety?

No, Alvesco isn’t expected to cause anxiety. This isn’t a side effect reported in the drug’s clinical studies.

Alvesco is an inhaled corticosteroid (ICS). While this type of asthma treatment doesn’t cause anxiety, other asthma treatments may cause anxiety as a side effect.

These include certain medications used in some inhalers. Examples of these medications include short-acting beta agonists (SABAs), such as albuterol (Ventolin HFA, generic albuterol HFA, others). They also include long-acting beta agonists (LABAs), such as salmeterol and formoterol. These drugs are found in treatments such as Advair HFA (fluticasone/salmeterol) and Symbicort (budesonide/formoterol).

In addition, oral corticosteroids, such as prednisone, may cause new or worsening mental health symptoms. These can include anxiety.

Can Alvesco cause long-term side effects?

Yes, it’s possible for Alvesco to cause long-term side effects. These can happen if you use Alvesco for a year. Or in other cases, they may last for a while even after you stop taking Alvesco.

Examples of long-term side effects reported with Alvesco include:

* For more information about this side effect, see “Side effect specifics” below.

Talk with your doctor or pharmacist if you’d like to learn more about Alvesco and possible long-term effects.

Can Alvesco cause withdrawal symptoms?

No, Alvesco isn’t expected to cause withdrawal symptoms. This isn’t a side effect reported in the drug’s clinical studies.

Withdrawal symptoms are effects that begin after you stop taking a medication. Stopping treatment with oral corticosteroids, such as prednisone, can lead to withdrawal symptoms. These can include fatigue, nausea and vomiting, and low blood pressure.

And suddenly stopping treatment with an oral corticosteroid can cause serious effects. In rare cases, these effects may even be life threatening.

Alvesco isn’t known to cause any of these effects.

If you’re transitioning from an oral corticosteroid to Alvesco, follow the directions given by your doctor for stopping the oral corticosteroid. They’ll likely need to slowly decrease your dosage over time until you can safely stop taking it. This reduces the risk for withdrawal symptoms.

Your doctor can answer any additional questions you may have about this.

Learn more about some of the side effects that Alvesco may cause. To find out how often side effects occurred in clinical trials, see the prescribing information for Alvesco.

Paradoxical bronchospasm

Bronchospasm refers to tightening of the muscles found in the airways of your lungs. Symptoms of paradoxical bronchospasm include wheezing or trouble breathing immediately after taking a dose of an inhaler such as Alvesco.

“Paradoxical” means the effect is the opposite of what is expected. Alvesco is used to manage symptoms of asthma, so you wouldn’t expect your breathing to worsen after taking a dose of the drug.

In addition to trouble breathing, paradoxical bronchospasm can also cause chest tightness. This side effect doesn’t appear to have been reported in Alvesco’s clinical studies, but it is a known side effect that any inhaler used to treat asthma may cause.

What you can do

If you experience bronchospasm after using Alvesco, immediately use your rescue inhaler (such as albuterol). If your breathing continues to worsen, seek immediate medical attention.

If you experience paradoxical bronchospasm from using Alvesco, your doctor will stop your treatment with the drug. They can recommend other asthma treatments that might be a better option for you.

Slowed growth in children

Inhaled corticosteroids (ICS), including Alvesco, can slow growth in children. This means the child may not grow at the same rate as other children of the same age.

Slowed growth is a known side effect of all inhaled corticosteroids when used in children. It’s not clear whether this side effect was evaluated in studies of Alvesco before it was approved for use. It’s important to note that Alvesco is not approved for use in children under age 12 years.

What you can do

Your child’s doctor will prescribe the lowest Alvesco dose needed to manage asthma symptoms. They’ll also closely monitor your child’s growth during treatment.

Below is important information you should consider before taking Alvesco.

Warnings and precautions

Before taking Alvesco, discuss your health history with your doctor. Alvesco may not be right for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors affecting your health. Be sure to talk with your doctor if any of the following apply to you:

* A contraindication is a factor or condition that could prevent your doctor from prescribing a drug due to risk of harm.

Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.