Patient Stories

• Trevor
• Jenny
• Elizabeth
• Collette

Jenny: Visiting Grandma and Her Cat

Asthma triggered by a family pet

Maggie, Jenny's mom, told us about how close Jenny is to her grandmother. "Jenny is five, and she adores my mom," Maggie said. "My mom watches Jenny when she gets home from kindergarten, which is a big help to me."

Jenny's grandmother recently adopted a kitten, which posed a challenge for Jenny's asthma. "Jenny just had to go over to meet the kitten the day mom brought it home," Maggie said. "Within a couple of minutes, Jenny began coughing and wheezing. She had to use her inhaler a few times before her breathing was finally under control. After that she needed to user her inhaler every day she went to my mom's."

An allergic asthma diagnosis

"We went to see Jenny's doctor," Maggie went on. "She told us that Jenny had allergic asthma, and that it needed to be brought under control. She prescribed QVAR® for Jenny, and told us that it was very important for her to take it every day, both in the morning and before bed. Her doctor said that because the QVAR® particles were smaller, it might reach more of the airways in Jenny's lungs."

Back in Control with QVAR®

After about 4 weeks, Jenny's asthma improved. "She needed to use her quick-relief inhaler less," Maggie recalled. "And her lung test results looked better, too. Now we're looking into Jenny's allergies, to make sure that they're under control too. We're still really careful when we visit my mom, but Jenny's asthma is definitely more controlled now."

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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