beclomethasone dipropionate inhaler

• Beclomethasone is a synthetic steroid drug 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.

• Qvar is the brand name available for beclomethasone dipropionate inhaler in the US.
• Vanceril and Beclovent are discontinued brand names for beclomethasone dipropionate inhaler in the US.

• No

• Yes

• Beclomethasone is used for the control of bronchial asthma in patients who require continuous treatment for asthma. Such patients may include those with frequent asthma episodes that require medications to dilate the airways in the lung or those with asthma episodes at night.
• Beclomethasone is also used for the treatment of asthma in patients who require oral steroid therapy and it may reduce or eliminate the need for oral steroid treatment.

Common side effects of include:

• Mild cough
• Wheezing due to chemical irritation

Other side effects include:

• Oral candidiasis or thrush
• Hoarseness

Other less common side effects included:

• Easy bruising
• Pain
• Back pain

Using an inhaled bronchodilator (for example, albuterol or Ventolin) prior to the beclomethasone may minimize the side effects of mild cough or wheezing caused by the drug.

A spacer device that can be attached to the inhaler and washing out the mouth with water following each use of Qvar reduces the amount of Qvar 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. Patients 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.

• Qvar is used to prevent attacks of asthma and not for the treatment of active attacks of asthma.
• The recommended dose is 40 to 160 mcg twice daily depending on age and previous asthma treatment.
• The maximum dose of this drug is 320 mg daily.
• The drug 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.

• No drug interactions have been described with Qvar treatment.

• There does not appear to be an increased risk of malformation in a child born to a patient exposed to Qvar during pregnancy. Additionally, there is no dependency on or withdrawal from the drug.
• It is not known if Qvar is secreted in breast milk. Other drugs 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.

What preparations of beclomethasone Qvar are available?

• Inhaler 40 mcg; 804 mcg

How should I keep Qvar stored?

• Beclomethasone inhaler should be kept at room temperature, 15 C - 30 C (59 F - 86 F).