What is the use of Qvar (beclomethasone) in asthma treatment?

From the Guidelines

Qvar, also known as beclomethasone dipropionate, is an inhaled corticosteroid medication used for the maintenance treatment of asthma.

Key Points

• The recommended dose is 40-160 mcg twice daily, with a maximum daily dose of 320 mcg 1.
• Treatment should be initiated at a dose sufficient to control symptoms, and then titrated to the lowest effective dose to maintain control.
• The medication is available in a metered-dose inhaler, and patients should be instructed to rinse their mouth after use to minimize the risk of oral thrush.
• Qvar is used as a long-term control medication to achieve and maintain control of persistent asthma, reducing airway hyperresponsiveness, inhibiting inflammatory cell migration and activation, and blocking late-phase reaction to allergen 1.
• It is often used in combination with other medications, such as long-acting beta2-agonists (LABAs), for patients with moderate or severe persistent asthma 1.
• The dose of Qvar may need to be adjusted based on the individual patient's response to treatment, with the goal of finding the lowest effective dose to maintain control while minimizing side effects 1.
• In cases of refractory asthma, Qvar may be used at higher doses, such as ≥ 1,260 mg/d or ≥ 40 puffs/d, in combination with other controller medications 1.

From the FDA Drug Label

QVAR is indicated in the maintenance treatment of asthma as prophylactic therapy in patients 5 years of age and older. QVAR is also indicated for asthma patients who require systemic corticosteroid administration, where adding QVAR may reduce or eliminate the need for the systemic corticosteroids.

The use of Qvar (beclomethasone) in asthma treatment is for:

• Maintenance therapy as prophylactic therapy in patients 5 years of age and older
• Reduction or elimination of systemic corticosteroids in patients who require them 2 Key points:
• Qvar is not indicated for the relief of acute bronchospasm
• It is used for long-term control and prevention of asthma symptoms, with improvement expected within 1-4 weeks of starting treatment 2

From the Research

Use of Qvar (Beclomethasone) in Asthma Treatment

• Qvar (beclomethasone) is a topically active corticosteroid used as an adjuvant in the control of chronic asthma when given by inhalation as an aerosol 3.
• It is not intended for treatment of acute attacks, but rather for long-term control of asthma symptoms 3.
• Beclomethasone dipropionate has a high topical activity and lower systemic activity due to metabolic inactivation of the swallowed portion of the dose, making it a preferable option to oral corticosteroids in some cases 3.

Efficacy and Safety

• Studies have shown that Qvar is effective in improving lung function, reducing asthma symptoms, and decreasing the need for rescue medication 4, 5, 6.
• The efficacy of Qvar has been compared to other inhaled corticosteroids, such as budesonide, and has been found to be equivalent or superior in some cases 5, 6.
• Qvar has been shown to be safe and well-tolerated, with minimal side effects, including oropharyngeal candidiasis, which is dose-related and more common in women than men 3, 4, 6.

Dosage and Administration

• The optimal dose of Qvar has been found to be 200 μg twice daily, which offers the best balance of efficacy and safety 6.
• Qvar can be administered once or twice daily, with similar efficacy and safety profiles 4, 7.
• The timing of administration, whether in the morning, afternoon, or evening, does not appear to affect the efficacy of Qvar 7.