Can asthma preventer puffer cause mood swings?

[ElfinsMum]

My mildly asthmatic DD takes an orange puffer, Flixotide Junior (may have a different brand name in UK), as a preventer.

Has anyone else ever experienced mood swings, anxiety, agitation, aggression?? We thought she had a separate anxiety issue but she has recently increased her puffer dose to try and control her symptoms better during her sport training and her anxiety seems to have spiked. Is this a thing?

All medicines can have side effects. Steroids - which is the basis of asthma inhalers definitely can have mood altering effects. I’ve no idea what ingredients go into flixotide. Have you looked at asthma uk (may have changed it’s name recently) or an equivalent where you are? In the uk that are brilliant and have the most up to date knowledge. You can privately WhatsApp them for help.

Flixotide (Fluticasone) is predominately a glucocorticoid, so with systemic admin can defiantly cause these symptoms. There will be a degree of systemic absorption via an inhaled route, but very small.
I would think an alternative cause more likely, see GP if you or she is worried.

I agree, I'd hesitate to ascribe those symptoms to inhaled steroids without other explanations being thoroughly explored first. I hope you can support her to manage her reactions more successfully and that your GP can help.