Control

• Maintaining Control

The Importance of Controlling Your Asthma

When your asthma is well controlled, you'll have fewer asthma attacks and your symptoms may be less severe.1 If your symptoms wake you up at night, this can be a sign of poorly controlled asthma. Achieving better control will reduce these awakenings. Finally, good asthma control means you have less risk of an emergency department visit for your asthma.1

Inhaled corticosteroids: A first-line asthma control treatment

The key to controlling asthma is controlling inflammation. Even when people with asthma don't have symptoms, their airways may still be inflamed. Fortunately, there are long-term control medications that can treat this inflammation and help control your asthma.

QVAR® contains beclomethasone dipropionate, a medicine known as an inhaled corticosteroid (or ICS). According to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI), ICSs are the first choice in asthma control medications for many patients.1 The NHLBI is a government organization that promotes the treatment and prevention of heart, lung, and blood diseases.2

1. NHLBI Expert Panel Report 3 (EPR3): Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Asthma. Available at: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/guidelines/asthma/asthgdln.htm. Accessed April 20, 2010.
2. About NHLBI: Mission Statement. Available at: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/about/org/mission.htm [Accessed June 25, 2010].

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

Important Safety Information

QVAR® does not replace fast-acting (rescue) inhalers for sudden symptoms.

CAUTION: If you are switching from an oral corticosteroid to QVAR®, follow your doctor's instructions to avoid health risks when you stop using oral corticosteroids (See WARNINGS, Prescribing Information).

Inhaled corticosteroids may cause a reduction in growth rate. The long-term effect on final adult growth is unknown.

In clinical studies, common side effects included headache and pharyngitis.

Do not stop taking QVAR® abruptly without talking to your doctor.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

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