Beclomethasone

Administration

• Type: Inhaled steroids, Corticosteroid
• Dosage Forms: oral inhalation aerosol, metered-dose nasal spray suspension, metered-dose nasal spray solution
• Dosage Strengths: oral inhalation aerosol: 40, 80mcg/actuation; metered-dose suspension: 42mcg/actuation; metered-dose solution: 80mcg/actuation
• Routes of Administration: inhalation, intranasal spray
• Common Trade Names: Qvar, Qvar RediHaler, Beconase AQ, QNASL

Adult Dosing

• Asthma: 40 to 320 mcg by oral inhalation BID
• Rhinitis: 2 sprays (80 mcg/spray) in each nostril once daily

Pediatric Dosing

• Asthma, 6-11 yo: 40-80 mcg by oral inhalation BID
• Rhinitis, 4-11 yo: 1 spray (40 mcg/spray) in each nostril once daily

Special Populations

• Pregnancy Rating: C
• Lactation risk: Infant risk minimal
• Renal dosing: no adjustment
• Hepatic dosing: no adjustment

Contraindications

• Allergy to class/drug
• Not to be used as primary treatment for acute asthma exacerbation

Adverse Reactions

Serious

• Secondary hypocortisolism
• Cataract, glaucoma
• Bronchospasm

Common

• Headache

Pharmacology

• Half-life: 0.3-3h
• Metabolism: Hepatic via CYP3A4
• Excretion: Mostly fecal

Mechanism of Action

• Corticosteroid, reduces inflammation

See Also

• Corticosteroids
• Asthma

References

• ACOG Committee on Practice Bulletins-Obstetrics, "ACOG Practice Bulletin: Clinical Management Guidelines for Obstetrician-Gynecologists Number 90, February 2008: Asthma in Pregnancy," Obstet Gynecol, 2008, 111(2 Pt 1):457-64. [PubMed 18238988]
• Bakhireva LN, Jones KL, Schatz M, et al, “Asthma Medication Use in Pregnancy and Fetal Growth,” J Allergy Clin Immunol, 2005, 116(3):503-9. [PubMed 16159616]
• Fanta CH. Acute exacerbations of asthma in adults: Home and office management. Post TW, ed. UpToDate. Waltham, MA: UpToDate Inc. http://www.uptodate.com. Accessed February 7, 2019.
• Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA). GINA report, Global Strategy for Asthma Management and Prevention. http://www.ginasthma.org. Updated 2018. Accessed October 23, 2018.
• Global Strategy for the Diagnosis, Management, and Prevention of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: 2014 Report. Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease website. Published 2014.
• Global Strategy for the Diagnosis, Management, and Prevention of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: 2018 Report. Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease website. http://goldcopd.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/GOLD-2018-v6.0-FINAL-revised-20-Nov_WMS.pdf. Published 2018. Accessed January 12, 2018.
• Goedert JJ, Vitale F, Lauria C, et al, “Risk Factors for Classical Kaposi's Sarcoma,” J Natl Cancer Inst, 2002, 94(22):1712-8. [PubMed 12441327]
• Lougheed MD, Lemière C, Dell SD, et al, “Canadian Thoracic Society Asthma Management Continuum - 2010 Consensus Summary for Children Six Years of Age and Over, and Adults,” Can Respir J, 2010, 17(1):15-24. [PubMed 20186367]