Beclomethasone

DEA Class; Rx

Common Brand Names; Qvar RediHaler

• Corticosteroids, Inhalants

Hypersensitivity

Primary treatment of status asthmaticus, acute bronchospasm

≥ 12 years (MDI)

• Pharyngitis (5-27%)

• Headache (8-25%)

• Upper respiratory tract infection (URI) (5-11%)

4-12 years (RediHaler)

• Vomiting, 80-160 mcg (1.6%)

• Headache, 80 mcg (1.6%)

• URI, 80 mcg (2.4%)

• Cough, 160 mcg (2.4%)

• Pyrexia, 160 mcg (3.2%)

• Pharyngitis, 80-160 mcg (3.2%)

• Nasopharyngitis, 80 mcg (4%)

• Viral URI, 80-160 mcg (4%)

• Headache, 160 mcg (4%)

• Nasopharyngitis, 160 mcg (8.8%)

≥12 years (RediHaler)

• Increased asthma symptoms (2-4%)

• URI, 320 mcg (4%)

• Nasopharyngitis, 80 mcg (4%)

• Nasopharyngitis, 80 mcg (4%)

• Viral URI, 80 mcg (3%)

• Sinusitis, 80 mcg (3%)

• URI, 640 mcg (3%)

• Oral candidiasis, 320 mcg (3%)

• URI, 80-160 mcg (3%)

• Rhinitis allergic, 160 mcg (3%)

• Sinusitis (3%) Oral symptoms (2-3%)

• Nasopharyngitis, 160 mcg (2%)

• Oropharyngeal pain, 80-160 mcg (2%)

• Oral candidiasis, 160 mcg (2%)

• Nasopharyngitis, 320-640 mcg (1%)

Immediate hypersensitivity reactions may occur; discontinue beclomethasone inhaler if such reactions occur

May decrease growth velocity in children; titrate dose to the lowest effective dose to relieve signs/symptoms

Kaposi sarcoma associated with prolonged corticosteroid treatment; if observed, consider discontinuing therapy

Psychiatric disturbances reported with corticosteroid use; psychiatric conditions, including depression, euphoria, personality changes, insomnia, and mood swings may be exacerbated by corticosteroid use

Following initiation of inhaled corticosteroids, rare cases of vasculitis or eosinophilic conditions may occur after decrease and/or withdrawal of oral corticosteroid therapy

Use caution in patients with heart failure (long-term use associated with fluid retention), diabetes mellitus (may lead to hyperglycemia), gastrointestinal disease (diverculitis, peptic ulcer, ulcerative colitis due to perforation risk), myasthenia gravis (exacerbation may occur), myocardial infarct (exacerbation of symptoms reported), myocardial infarct (corticosteroids associated with myocardial rupture), ocular disease (routine eye exam recommended), history of seizure disorder (seizures reported with adrenal crisis)

Dosage adjustments may be necessary with changes in thyroid status; metabolic clearance of corticosteroids may increase in hyperthyroid patients and decreases in hypothyroid ones

There are no adequate and well-controlled in pregnant women; there are clinical considerations with use of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS), including beclomethasone dipropionate, in pregnant women

There are no data available on presence in human milk, effects on breastfed child, or on milk production; however, other inhaled corticosteroids have been detected in human milk