Why Qvar Inhaler or Redihaler is prescribed?

Beclomethasone is used to prevent difficulty breathing, chest tightness, wheezing and coughing caused by asthma in adults and children 5 years of age and older. It belongs to a class of medications called corticosteroids. It works by decreasing swelling and irritation in the airways to allow for easier breathing.

How should this medicine be used?

Beclomethasone comes as an aerosol to inhale by mouth using an inhaler. It usually is inhaled twice a day. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Use beclomethasone exactly as directed. Do not use more or less of it or use it more often than prescribed by your doctor.

Talk to your doctor about how you should use your other oral and inhaled medications for asthma during your treatment with beclomethasone inhalation. If you were taking an oral steroid such as dexamethasone, methylprednisolone (Medrol), or prednisone (Rayos), your doctor may want to gradually decrease your steroid dose starting after you begin to use beclomethasone.

Do not use your beclomethasone inhaler when you are near a flame or source of heat. The inhaler may explode if it is exposed to very high temperatures.

Before using beclomethasone inhalation:

Tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to beclomethasone, any other medications, or any of the ingredients in beclomethasone inhalation. Ask your pharmacist for a list of the ingredients.

Tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking or have recently taken. Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects. Many other medications may also interact with beclomethasone inhalation, so be sure to tell your doctor about all the medications you are taking, even those that do not appear on this list.

Do not use beclomethasone during an asthma attack. Your doctor will prescribe a short-acting inhaler to use during asthma attacks. Call your doctor if you have an asthma attack that does not stop when using the fast-acting asthma medication, or if you need to use more of the fast-acting medication than usual.

Tell your doctor if you have or have ever had tuberculosis (TB; a serious lung infection), cataracts (clouding of the lens of the eye), glaucoma (an eye disease) or high pressure in the eye. Also tell your doctor if you have any type of untreated infection anywhere in your body or a herpes eye infection (a type of infection that causes a sore on the eyelid or eye surface).

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding. If you become pregnant while using beclomethasone, call your doctor.

If you have any other medical conditions, such as asthma, arthritis, or eczema (a skin disease), they may worsen when your oral steroid dose is decreased. Tell your doctor if this happens or if you experience any of the following symptoms during this time: extreme tiredness, muscle weakness or pain; sudden pain in stomach, lower body, or legs; loss of appetite; weight loss; upset stomach; vomiting; diarrhea; dizziness; fainting; depression; irritability; and darkening of skin. Your body may be less able to cope with stress such as surgery, illness, severe asthma attack, or injury during this time. Call your doctor right away if you get sick and be sure that all healthcare providers who treat you know that you recently replaced your oral steroid with beclomethasone inhalation. Carry a card or wear a medical identification bracelet to let emergency personnel know that you may need to be treated with steroids in an emergency.

Tell your doctor if you have never had chickenpox or measles and you have not been vaccinated against these infections. Stay away from people who are sick, especially people who have chickenpox or measles. If you are exposed to one of these infections or if you develop symptoms of one of these infections, call your doctor right away. You may need treatment to protect you from these infections.

You should know that beclomethasone inhalation sometimes causes wheezing and difficulty breathing immediately after it is inhaled. If this happens, use your fast-acting (rescue) asthma medication right away and call your doctor. Do not use beclomethasone inhalation again unless your doctor tells you that you should.

Beclomethasone inhalation may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

-Headache

-Sore throat

-Runny or stuffy nose

-Back pain

-Nausea

-Cough

-Difficult or painful speech

Some side effects can be serious. If you experience any of the following symptoms or those in the SPECIAL PRECAUTIONS section, call your doctor immediately or get emergency medical treatment:

-Rash

-Hives

-Itching

-Swelling of the face, throat, tongue, lips, eyes, hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs

-Hoarseness

-Difficulty breathing or swallowing

-Changes in vision

Beclomethasone inhalation may cause children to grow more slowly. There is not enough information to tell whether using beclomethasone decreases the final height that children will reach when they stop growing. Your child's doctor will watch your child's growth carefully while your child is using beclomethasone. Talk to your child's doctor about the risks of giving this medication to your child.

What should I know about storage and disposal of this medication?

Keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children. Store the inhaler upright with the plastic mouthpiece on top at room temperature and away from excess heat and moisture (not in the bathroom). Avoid puncturing the aerosol container, and do not discard it in an incinerator or fire.

What other information should I know?

Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory.

Do not let anyone else use your medication. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about refilling your prescription.

It is important for you to keep a written list of all of the prescription and nonprescription (over-the-counter) medicines you are taking, as well as any products such as vitamins, minerals, or other dietary supplements. You should bring this list with you each time you visit a doctor or if you are admitted to a hospital. It is also important information to carry with you in case of emergencies.