Qvar RediHaler

Beclomethasone inhalation will not work fast enough to treat an asthma attack. Use only a fast acting inhalation medicine for an asthma attack.

You should not use beclomethasone if you are allergic to it.

To make sure this medicine is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have ever had:

• any type of bacterial, fungal, or viral infection;

• active tuberculosis infection that is not being treated;

• herpes infection of the eyes;

• osteoporosis, or low bone mineral density;

• a weak immune system; or

• cataracts, glaucoma, or increased pressure inside your eyes.

It is not known whether this medicine will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

Beclomethasone inhalation can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. You should not breast-feed while using this medicine.

Beclomethasone should not be given to a child younger than 5 years old.

Follow all directions on your prescription label. Do not use this medicine in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended.

Beclomethasone is not a rescue medicine. It will not work fast enough to treat an asthma attack. Use only a fast-acting asthma medicine for an attack. Tell your doctor if it seems like your asthma medications don't work as well.

Follow all patient instructions for safe and effective use, and directions for priming the inhaler device. Prime the inhaler device before the first use by pumping 2 test sprays into the air, away from your face. Prime the inhaler if it has not been used for longer than 10 days.

To reduce the chance of developing a yeast infection, rinse your mouth with water after using beclomethasone. Do not swallow.

Do not wash your inhaler device or allow it to get wet. Wipe the mouthpiece with a clean dry tissue or cloth at least once per week.

Your inhaler device may have a dose counter to show how many sprays are left in the canister. Check this number often. When the number reaches 0, there are no sprays left. Get your prescription refilled before you run out of medicine completely.

Always use the new device provided with the medicine when you get your prescription filled.

It may take 1 to 2 weeks or longer before your symptoms improve. Keep using the medication as directed and call your doctor if your symptoms do not begin to improve after 2 weeks of treatment.

Your dose needs may change if you have surgery, are ill, are under stress, or have recently had an asthma attack. Do not change your medication dose or schedule without your doctor's advice.

Asthma is usually treated with a combination of drugs. Use all medications as directed by your doctor. Seek medical attention if you think your asthma medications are not working as well. An increased need for medication could be an early sign of a serious asthma attack.

You should not stop using beclomethasone inhalation suddenly. If you switched to this medicine from an oral (taken by mouth) steroid, do not stop using the other steroid suddenly or you may have unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. Follow your doctor's instructions about tapering your dose.

You may need to restart the oral steroid if you are under stress or have an asthma attack or other medical emergency. Wear a medical alert tag or carry an ID card stating that you may need an oral steroid in an emergency.

Beclomethasone can weaken your immune system. Your blood may need to be tested often.

Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat. Store the inhaler device with the canister upright and the mouthpiece on top. Keep the canister away from open flame or high heat, such as in a car on a hot day. The canister may explode if it gets too hot. Do not puncture or burn an empty inhaler canister.

Use the medicine as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not use extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

Other drugs may interact with beclomethasone inhalation, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any medicine you start or stop using.

Qvar is a prescription medication used to treat asthma in patients 5 years of age and older. 

Asthma is a chronic lung disease that causes airway inflammation and difficulty breathing.

This medication may be prescribed for other uses. Ask your physician or pharmacist for more information.

Side effects have been reported with Qvar. See the 'Qvar Precautions' section for more information.

Common side effects of Qvar include the following:

• Headache
• Upper respiratory tract infection
• Throat irritation
• Stuffy nose
• Pain
• Nausea

This is not a complete list of Qvar side effects. Ask your physician or pharmacist for more information.

Inform your physician about side effects that do not go away or if you have any side effects that bother you.

Call your physician for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

The FDA categorizes medications based on safety for use during pregnancy. Five categories - A, B, C, D, and X, are used to classify the possible risks to an unborn baby when a medication is taken during pregnancy.

Qvar falls into category C. In animal studies, pregnant animals were given this medication and had some babies born with problems. No well-controlled studies have been done in humans. Therefore, this medication may be used if the potential benefits to the mother outweigh the potential risks to the unborn child.