BECLOMETASONE metered dose inhaler

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    Last updated: June 2023

     

    Prescription under medical supervision

     

    Therapeutic action

    • Steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (inhaled corticosteroid)

    Indications

    • Long term treatment of chronic asthma (maintenance and symptomatic treatment), alone or in combination with a beta-2 agonist bronchodilator 

    Forms and strengths

    • Solution or suspension for inhalation in pressurised metered dose inhalers, delivering 50, 100 or 250 micrograms of beclometasone dipropionate/puff

    Dosage 

    Start at the step most appropriate to initial severity. Always try to administer the lowest effective dose.

     

    Asthma 

    severity

    6 to 11 years 12 years and over and adult

    Intermittent

    asthma

    _

    Only when symptomatic: 

    200 to 500 micrograms, in combination with salbutamol

    Mild persistent asthma

    50 to 100 micrograms (low dose)

    2 times daily

    100 to 250 micrograms (low dose)

    2 times daily 

    Moderate persistent

    asthma

    50 to 100 micrograms (low dose)

    2 times daily, in combination with salmeterol

     

    OR (if salmeterol is not available)

    150 to 200 micrograms (medium dose) 2 times daily

    100 to 250 micrograms (low dose) 

    2 times daily, in combination with salmeterol

     

    OR (if salmeterol is not available)

    300 to 500 micrograms (medium dose)

    2 times daily

    Severe persistent

    asthma

    150 to 200 micrograms (medium dose)

    2 times daily, in combination with salmeterol

    300 to 500 micrograms (medium dose)

    2 times daily, in combination with salmeterol

     

    OR (if salmeterol is not available)

    > 500 micrograms (high dose) 2 times daily

     

    In all cases, do not exceed 2000 micrograms daily.

    Duration

    • As long as required. Re-evaluate after 2 to 3 months if doses are adequate or need to be increased or decreased.

    Administration technique

    • Shake the inhaler. Remove the mouthpiece cover.
    • Breathe in and breathe out as completely as possible. Place the lips tightly around the mouthpiece. Inhale deeply while activating the inhaler. Hold breath 10 seconds before exhaling.
    • If hand-breath co-ordination is difficult, use a spacer to facilitate administration and improve the efficacy of treatment.

    Contra-indications, adverse effects, precautions

    • Do not administer to patients with untreated respiratory infection.
    • May cause:
      • throat irritation, hoarseness and cough at the beginning of treatment; oro-pharyngeal candidiasis;
      • adrenal suppression with high doses for prolonged periods.
    • Pregnancy: no contra-indication
    • Breast-feeding: no contra-indication

    Remarks

    • When beclometasone is given with salbutamol, preferably use combination inhaler. If not available, beclometasone should be inhaled right after salbutamol.
    • Relief of symptoms may require several days or weeks of continuous therapy.
    • Clean the mouthpiece before and after each use.
    • Do not pierce or incinerate used aerosol containers (risk of explosion).
    • Also comes in a combination metered dose inhaler with formoterol.

    Storage

     
    –  Below 25 °C