Medications and Drugs
GENERIC NAME: beclomethasone dipropionate inhaler
BRAND NAME: Vanceril
DRUG CLASS AND MECHANISM: Beclomethasone is a synthetic
steroid
of the glucocorticoid family. The naturally-occurring
glucocorticoid
(cortisol or hydrocortisone) is produced in the adrenal glands.
Glucocorticoid steroids have potent anti-inflammatory actions.
When used
as an inhaler, the medication goes directly into the lungs, and
very
little finds its way into the rest of the body. Therefore, in
comparison
with glucocorticoids that are taken orally, beclomethasone has
fewer side
effects.
PRESCRIPTION: Yes
GENERIC AVAILABLE: Yes
PREPARATIONS: Inhaler 42 mcg/actuation; 84
mcg/actuation.
STORAGE: Beclomethasone should be kept at room
temperature,
15-30°C (59-86°F).
PRESCRIBED FOR: Beclomethasone is used for the control
of
bronchial asthma in persons requiring continuous treatment.
Such patients
may include those with frequent asthmatic episodes that require
medications to dilate the airways in the lung or those with
asthmatic
episodes at night.
DOSING: Beclomethasone is used to prevent attacks of
asthma and
not to treat active attacks of asthma. Doses vary widely. The
medication
requires continuous use to be effective. Some benefit may be
noted as soon
as three days after starting treatment, but optimal benefit
usually is not
seen until after two to three weeks.
DRUG INTERACTIONS: No drug interactions have been
described
with inhaled beclomethasone.
PREGNANCY: There does not appear to be an increased
risk of
malformation in children born to mothers exposed to
beclomethasone during
pregnancy. Additionally, there is no dependency on or
withdrawal from the
medication.
NURSING MOTHERS: It is not known if beclomethasone is
secreted in breast milk. Other medications in this class of medications
are
secreted into breast milk, but is not known whether the small
amounts that
appear in milk have any effect on the infant.
SIDE EFFECTS: The most commonly noted side effects
associated
with inhaled beclomethasone are mild cough or wheezing due to
chemical
irritation; these effects may be minimized by using an inhaled
bronchodilator (e.g., albuterol or Ventolin) prior to the
beclomethasone.
Oral candidiasis or thrush, a fungal infection of the mouth and
throat,
can occur in between 1 in 20 and 1 in 8 persons who use
beclomethasone.
The risk of thrush is greater with higher doses, but the risk
in children
is lower than in adults. Hoarseness may occur in as few as 1 in
20 or as
many as 1 in 2 persons and is due to chemical irritation. A
spacer device
that can be attached to the inhaler and washing out the mouth
with water
following each use of beclomethasone reduces the amount of
beclomethasone
in the mouth and throat and reduces the risk of thrush and
hoarseness.
Higher doses of inhaled beclomethasone (more than 1000
mcg/day) may
result in more absorption into the body. This may decrease bone
formation
and increase bone breakdown (resorption), resulting in weak
bones and a
risk of fractures. Even higher doses (more than 1500 mcg/day in
adults and
400 mcg/day in children) may suppress the adrenal glands and
impair their
ability to make natural glucocorticoid. People with such
suppression
(which can be identified by testing) need increased amounts of
glucocorticoid orally or by the intravenous route during
periods of high
physical stress since higher amounts of glucocorticoids are
needed by the
body to fight physical stress. Patients receiving
beclomethasone may
develop easy bruising if enough beclomethasone is absorbed into
the body
from the lungs.
Reference: FDA Prescribing Information
Last Editorial Review: 12/31/1997
Report Problems to the Food and Drug Administration
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit the FDA MedWatch website or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
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