beclomethasone dipropionate inhaler (Qvar) Side Effects

What is beclomethasone dipropionate inhaler, and how does it work?

• 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.

What brand names are available for
beclomethasone dipropionate inhaler?

• 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.

Is beclomethasone dipropionate inhaler available as a generic drug?

• No

Do I need a prescription for
beclomethasone dipropionate inhaler?

• Yes

Asthma is a chronic respiratory disease.
See Answer

What are the uses for beclomethasone
dipropionate inhaler?

• 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.

What are the side effects of
beclomethasone dipropionate inhaler 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.

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What is the dose for beclomethasone
dipropionate inhaler?

• 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.

Which drugs or supplements interact with
beclomethasone dipropionate inhaler?

• No
  drug interactions have been
  described
  with Qvar treatment.

Is beclomethasone dipropionate inhaler safe to use during pregnancy or while breastfeeding?

• 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 else should I know about
beclomethasone dipropionate inhaler?

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).