NLN Pharmacology Practice Exam

Inhaled corticosteroids often cause local immunosuppression in the mouth and throat, which can allow Candida (oral thrush) to overgrow. The best way to prevent this is to clean the mouth after inhalation—rinse and gargle with water and spit it out to remove residual steroid from the oropharyngeal mucosa. Using a spacer with a metered-dose inhaler also reduces oropharyngeal deposition, delivering more medication to the lungs and less to the mouth and throat, further lowering the risk of thrush. While other symptoms like nausea, dizziness, or headaches can occur with various meds, they are not the typical or preventable adverse effect pattern for inhaled corticosteroids in this context.