QVAR® (beclomethasone dipropionate HFA) Asthma Control Inhaler

QVAR® Prescription Information

Prescribing QVAR® to Asthma Patients

QVAR® is a long-term control medication for asthma.1 QVAR® provides good lung deposition, even among adults with poor inhaler technique.2 QVAR® doesn't need shaking and can be used with or without a spacer,1 making it a good choice for a wide range of patients, including children, because QVAR® can be prescribed for pediatric asthma patients as young as 5 years old.1

Patients Can Use QVAR® With or Without Spacers

QVAR® can be used with or without an inhaler spacer.1 Potential benefits of using QVAR® without a spacer include:

  • Eliminating the cost of an asthma inhaler spacer
  • No need to train patients on spacer use and cleaning

Consider QVAR® for patients who are transitioning from a nebulizer.

QVAR® Lung Deposition With a Spacer3

Age Group Lung Deposition
5-7 Years Old 58.1%
8-10 Years Old 56.6%
11-17 Years Old 58.4%

QVAR® Lung Deposition Without a Spacer4

Age Group Lung Deposition
5-7 Years Old 36.9%
8-10 Years Old 46.5%
11-14 Years Old 54.1%

Learn More About QVAR®

Read on for important information about QVAR® dosing in adults and children, helping patients maintain adherence, and initiating asthma controller therapy with QVAR® for patients with mild to moderate persistent asthma.

Indication

QVAR® (beclomethasone dipropionate HFA) Inhalation Aerosol 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® is not a bronchodilator and is not indicated for relief of acute bronchospasm.

CAUTION: Adrenal insufficiency may occur when transferring patients from systemic steroids (see WARNINGS, Prescribing Information).

A reduction in growth velocity in growing children and teenagers may occur as a result of inadequate control of chronic diseases such as asthma or from use of corticosteroids for treatment

Common side effects associated with the use of QVAR® and placebo in clinical trials include, but are not limited to, headache (12% and 9% respectively) and pharyngitis (8% and 4% respectively).

References

  1. QVAR® (beclomethasone dipropionate HFA) Prescribing Information. Teva Respiratory, LLC; 2010.
  2. Leach C. Effect of formulation parameters on hydrofluoroalkane-beclomethasone dipropionate drug deposition in humans. J Allergy Clin Immunol.1999;104(6):S250-S252.
  3. Roller CM, Zhang G, Troedson RG, et al. Spacer inhalation technique and deposition of extrafine aerosol in asthmatic children. Eur Respir J. 2007;29(2):299-306.
  4. Devadason SG, Huang T, Walker S, Troedson R, Le Souef PN. Distribution of technetium-99m-labelled QVAR® delivered using an Autohaler™ device in children. Eur Respir J. 2003;21(6):1007-1011.
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