Beclomethasone Oral Inhalation

Beclomethasone is used to prevent wheezing, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties caused by severe asthma and other lung diseases. Beclomethasone is in a class of medications called corticosteroids. It works by reducing swelling in the airways.

Beclomethasone comes as an aerosol to inhale by mouth. It usually is inhaled three or four times a day at evenly spaced intervals. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Use beclomethasone exactly as directed. Do not use more or less of it or use it more often than prescribed by your doctor. If your doctor has prescribed a bronchodilator (a drug to be inhaled for rapid relief of difficult breathing), use it several minutes before your beclomethasone inhaler so that beclomethasone reaches deep into your lungs. Beclomethasone controls symptoms of asthma and other lung diseases but does not cure them. Continue to use beclomethasone even if you feel well. Do not stop using beclomethasone without talking to your doctor. Before you use beclomethasone the first time, read the written instructions that come with it. Ask your doctor, pharmacist, or respiratory therapist to show you how to use it. Practice using the inhaler while he or she watches. To use the inhaler, follow these steps:

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Shake the inhaler well. (Note: If you are using QVAR, you do not need to shake the inhaler.)</li>
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Remove the protective cap.</li>
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Exhale (breathe out) as completely as possible through your nose while keeping your mouth shut.</li>
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<span class='ital'>Open Mouth Technique:</span> Open your mouth wide, and place the open end of the mouthpiece about 1-2 inches from your mouth.
<span class='ital'>Closed Mouth Technique:</span> Place the open end of the mouthpiece well into your mouth, past your front teeth. Close your lips tightly around the mouthpiece.</li>
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Take a slow, deep breath through the mouthpiece and, at the same time, press down on the container to spray the medication into your mouth. Be sure that the mist goes into your throat and is not blocked by your teeth or tongue. Adults giving the treatment to young children may hold the child's nose closed to be sure that the medication goes into the child's throat.</li>
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Hold your breath for 5-10 seconds, remove the inhaler, and exhale slowly through your nose or mouth. If you take two puffs, wait 2 minutes and shake the inhaler well before taking the second puff.</li>
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Replace the protective cap on the inhaler.</li>
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After each treatment, rinse your mouth with water or mouthwash.</li></ul>

<p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p>Beclomethasone may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

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dry or irritated throat and mouth</li>
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cough</li>
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difficult or painful speech</li></ul></p> <p></p> <p>If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately:

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skin rash</li>
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increased difficulty breathing</li>
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white spots or sores in your mouth</li>
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swollen face, lower legs, or ankles</li>
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vision problems</li>
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cold or infection that lasts a long time</li>
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muscle weakness</li></ul>If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor may send a report to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online [at <a href='http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch'>http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch</a>] or by phone [1-800-332-1088].</p>

Before using beclomethasone, tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to beclomethasone or any other drugs. tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications you are taking, especially arthritis medications, aspirin, digoxin (Lanoxin), diuretics (water pills), estrogen (Premarin), ketoconazole (Nizoral), oral contraceptives, phenobarbital, phenytoin (Dilantin), rifampin (Rifadin), theophylline (Theo-Dur), and vitamins. if you have a fungal infection (other than on your skin), do not use beclomethasone without talking to your doctor. tell your doctor if you have or have ever had liver, kidney, intestinal, or heart disease; diabetes; an underactive thyroid gland; high blood pressure; mental illness; myasthenia gravis; osteoporosis; herpes eye infection; seizures; or ulcers. if you have a history of ulcers or use large doses of aspirin or other arthritis medication, limit your consumption of alcoholic beverages while using this drug. Beclomethasone makes your stomach and intestines more susceptible to the irritating effects of alcohol, aspirin, and certain arthritis medications; this effect increases your risk of getting ulcers. do not use beclomethasone during a sudden asthma attack. You should have a fast-acting inhaler such as albuterol (Proventil, Ventolin) to use during asthma attacks. avoid exposure to chicken pox and measles. This drug makes you more likely to catch these illnesses. If you are exposed to them while using beclomethasone, call your doctor. Do not have a vaccination or other immunization without your doctor's approval.