Steroid medicines are available as nasal sprays, metered-dose-inhalers (inhaled steroids), oral forms (pills or syrups), injections (shots) and intravenous (IV) solutions. Healthcare providers at National Jewish Health rarely use steroid shots for the treatment of chronic lung disorders. With severe episodes or emergencies, high-dose steroids are often given in an IV. As the symptoms improve, the medicine is changed from IV to oral forms and then slowly decreased. Inhaled steroids and steroid pills and syrups are often prescribed for people with a chronic lung disease.