sam_of_losangeles replied: "The difficulty in weaning is that you still have inflammation in your airways. Corticosteroids are used to reduce inflammation in the airways, which is a component of asthma. To completely wean of your Pulmicort, you have to either NOT have inflammation OR find another medication/method to reduce your inflamed airways. Have you tried the DPI (Dry Powder Inhaler) Advair? It also had a steroid (like Pulmicort), but comes with a long acting Beta-2 Agonist (similar to Albuterol, but longer acting). So, two types of medications in one. You'll still need to take it twice a day though.
So until your airways stop being inflamed, you'll still need the steroids.
Good luck. I'll post more information/links when I get a chance."