Beclomethasone dipropionate

Pronunciation: Not established in the reviewed sources; verify with a reliable pharmacopeia..

Generic name: beclomethasone dipropionate
Brand names: QVAR
Drug class: Inhaled corticosteroid
Form: Metered-dose inhaler (aerosol)
Route: Oral inhalation
Legal status: Not established from the sources reviewed: prescription-only status was not explicitly confirmed in the sources reviewed for this page beyond its listing as an FDA-labeled product.

Availability and supply rules vary by country

Trade names by country: United States · Canada

What beclomethasone dipropionate is and how it works

Beclomethasone dipropionate (QVAR) is an inhaled corticosteroid used for maintenance treatment of asthma as prophylactic therapy in patients 5 years and older. It is not indicated for relief of acute bronchospasm. (1)

QVAR is not a rescue inhaler; it works over time to prevent asthma symptoms. Improvement may begin within 24 hours, but full benefit may take 3-4 weeks.

Mechanism of action: how beclomethasone dipropionate works

Not detailed in the reviewed prescribing information; beclomethasone dipropionate is an inhaled corticosteroid. (1)

What beclomethasone dipropionate is used for

Asthma maintenance treatment

Beclomethasone dipropionate (QVAR) is indicated for maintenance treatment of asthma as prophylactic therapy in patients 5 years of age and older. It is not indicated for relief of acute bronchospasm. (1)

Before taking beclomethasone dipropionate

Do not take / not appropriate for

QVAR should not be used as primary treatment for status asthmaticus or other acute asthma episodes that require intensive measures. (asthma maintenance) (1)
This product should not be used by anyone with a known hypersensitivity to beclomethasone dipropionate or any ingredient in QVAR. (asthma maintenance) (1)

Tell your clinician about

Any history of tuberculosis, fungal, bacterial, viral, or parasitic infections, or exposure to chickenpox or measles.
If you are taking or have recently taken oral corticosteroids; transfer to an inhaled corticosteroid requires careful tapering and monitoring.
Any vision changes, history of glaucoma or cataracts.
For children: growth should be monitored regularly; discuss the lowest effective dose with the prescriber.
All other medicines you take, including prescription, over-the-counter, and herbal products.
If you are pregnant, planning pregnancy, or breastfeeding.

(1)

How to take beclomethasone dipropionate

QVAR is an oral inhalation aerosol used twice daily. Do not use it more often than prescribed.
It is not a rescue inhaler and is not indicated for relief of acute bronchospasm.
Use the inhaler exactly as shown in the patient instructions.
After each dose, rinse your mouth with water and spit it out to help prevent thrush (oral candidiasis).
If transferring from an oral (systemic) corticosteroid, this requires clinician-managed tapering and monitoring — do not change the dose without your prescriber's advice.
Improvement may begin within 24 hours, but maximum benefit should not be expected until 3-4 weeks of therapy.

(1)

Procedures and treatment changes

Tell the treating team before surgery, procedures, or any medicine change. Do not alter treatment without the responsible clinician. (1)

Missed dose

The label does not give specific missed-dose instructions. Consult your healthcare provider about a missed dose.

Overdose

No specific overdose information is provided in the reviewed label. If you suspect an overdose, contact your healthcare provider. (1)

Side effects

Common side effects include headache, throat irritation, and oral symptoms.

Headache

What to notice: Headache may occur.

What to do: Tell your healthcare provider if it is severe or persistent. (1)

Throat irritation (pharyngitis) and oral symptoms

What to notice: Throat or mouth irritation.

What to do: Rinsing mouth after each use may help. (1)

Sinusitis

What to notice: Sinusitis symptoms.

What to do: Discuss with clinician if persistent. (1)

Nausea, coughing, dysmenorrhea

What to notice: Less common effects (incidence 1-3%).

What to do: Report any troublesome or persistent symptoms to your clinician. (1)

Oral thrush (Candida infection)

What to notice: Signs of a Candida (thrush) infection of the mouth or throat.

What to do: Contact your healthcare provider for evaluation and treatment. (1)

Worsening asthma or paradoxical bronchospasm

What to notice: Immediate increase in wheezing or shortness of breath after using the inhaler.

What to do: Use your rescue inhaler immediately and seek urgent medical attention. Your clinician will decide about continuing QVAR. (1)

Adrenal suppression symptoms

What to notice: Fatigue, weakness, or low blood pressure, especially after switching from oral steroids.

What to do: Inform your clinician promptly. (1)

Vision problems

What to notice: Any change in vision.

What to do: Report to your clinician. (1)

Signs of infection (due to immunosuppression)

What to notice: New signs of infection, or exposure to chickenpox/measles if not already immune.

What to do: Seek medical advice if exposed to chickenpox or measles and you are not already immune. (1)

Serious warnings

Paradoxical bronchospasm — emergency

Symptoms: An immediate increase in wheezing after using the inhaler.

Action: Use your fast-acting rescue inhaler as directed and seek urgent medical attention. Let the treating clinician decide about continuing QVAR. (1)

Signs of adrenal suppression during transfer from systemic corticosteroids — contact_clinician_promptly

Symptoms: Fatigue, weakness, or low blood pressure, especially after switching from oral steroids.

Action: Contact your clinician promptly. Dose decisions during this transfer are clinician-managed. (1)

Interactions

Medicine or test	Effect	Action
Other medications (including prescription, over-the-counter, and herbal products)	The reviewed QVAR label did not include specific drug-interaction studies or information on interactions with other medications.	The label does not detail formal drug-interaction studies; this is a gap, not evidence of no interactions. (1)

Pregnancy, breastfeeding, kidney/liver function, age

Children

Safety and effectiveness not established in children under 5 years. In children 5-11 years, use the lowest effective dose; growth should be monitored routinely. Use of a spacer device is not recommended in children under 5 according to the label. Dosing for ages 12 and older follows adult recommendations. (1)

Pregnancy

No adequate well-controlled studies in pregnant women. Available human data do not establish the presence or absence of drug-associated fetal risk. The risk of uncontrolled asthma must be weighed against treatment risk; this is a decision for the treating clinician together with the patient. (1)

Breastfeeding

No data are available on beclomethasone dipropionate in human milk. Consult your healthcare provider about infant feeding decisions while using QVAR. (1)

Patients with infections or immunosuppression

Use with caution in active tuberculosis, untreated fungal/bacterial/viral infections, or ocular herpes simplex. Discuss any history of these with your clinician. (1)

Monitoring

Before starting

Evaluate for previous systemic corticosteroid use and need for tapering.
Check for history of infections, vision problems, and adrenal function concerns.

During treatment

Monitor for oral thrush; advise rinsing mouth after use.
In children, monitor growth regularly (e.g., stadiometry) and titrate to lowest effective dose.
Watch for signs of adrenal suppression (fatigue, weakness, low blood pressure) especially after withdrawing systemic steroids.
Closer monitoring for patients with vision changes or a history of increased intraocular pressure, glaucoma, or cataracts.

(1)

Storage

Store at room temperature, 25°C (77°F). Do not expose to temperatures above 120°F (49°C). Keep the canister away from heat or flame. Store with the canister resting on its concave (valve) end.

Study the drug class: Inhaled and intranasal corticosteroids

Professional information

Clinician-facing context only. Use the current full prescribing information and asthma guidelines.

United States (FDA labeling)

Indication: Asthma maintenance

Dose summary: Adults and adolescents 12 years and older: starting dose 40-80 mcg twice daily (if not previously on ICS) up to a maximum of 320 mcg twice daily. Pediatric patients 5-11 years: starting dose 40 mcg twice daily, may increase to 80 mcg twice daily. Maximum benefit may take 3-4 weeks. Doses must be individualized by the prescriber.

Renal context: No renal impairment dosing guidance is provided in the reviewed label. (1)

Mechanism of action

Hepatic guidance

No hepatic impairment dosing guidance is provided in the reviewed label.

Overdose note

Overdose information is not provided in the reviewed label. Suspected overdose requires medical assessment. (1)

Frequently asked questions

Is QVAR a rescue inhaler?

No. QVAR is a maintenance (controller) treatment for asthma and should be used regularly to prevent symptoms. It is not indicated for relief of acute bronchospasm. (1)

How long does it take for QVAR to work?

Some improvement may be seen within 24 hours, but the maximum benefit is not expected until 3-4 weeks of regular use. (1)

Why should I rinse my mouth after using QVAR?

Rinsing with water and spitting out after each dose helps reduce the risk of oral thrush (a fungal infection in the mouth). (1)

What is the mechanism of action of beclomethasone dipropionate?