II. Indications

  1. Inhaled Corticosteroids are the most important agent in Asthma Management
  2. Indicated as daily maintenance agents in all persistent Asthma
    1. Mild Persistent Asthma
    2. Moderate Persistent Asthma
    3. Severe Persistent Asthma

III. Background

  1. Qvar Redihaler HFA (breath-actuated MDI) replaced the older Qvar Inhaler
    1. Ostensibly this patent extending change is so patients need not coordinate breath to actuation
  2. General
    1. QVAR 80 is similar in cost of 40 and can use 1/2 puffs
    2. Small particles allow for using without spacer

IV. Dosing: Beclomethasone Dipropionate HFA MDI (QVAR RediHaler)

  1. Use child dosing for age 6 to 11 years old
  2. Low dose
    1. Adult: 160 ug/day (e.g. 80 mcg Inhaler, 1 puff twice daily)
    2. Child: 80 ug/day (e.g. 40 mcg Inhaler, 1 puff twice daily)
  3. Medium dose
    1. Adult: 320 mcg/day (e.g. 80 mcg Inhaler, 2 puff twice daily)
    2. Child: 80-160 mcg/day (e.g. 40 mcg Inhaler, 1-2 puff twice daily)
  4. High dose
    1. Adult: 480-640 mcg/day (e.g. 80 mcg Inhaler, 3-4 puff twice daily)
    2. Child: 160 mcg/day (e.g. 40 mcg Inhaler, 2 puff twice daily)

V. Adverse Effects

VI. Efficacy

VII. Safety

  1. Pregnancy Category C
  2. Unknown Safety in Lactation

VIII. Resources

  1. Beclomethasone Dipropionate HFA MDI or QVAR RediHaler (DailyMed)
    1. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=cada897a-264e-450d-ae00-36e7fe747080

IX. References

  1. (2022) Comparison of Asthma Medications, Presc Lett, #381217
  2. (2020) Drugs for Asthma, Med Lett Drug Ther 62: 193-200

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Related Studies

Cost: Medications

qvar (on 8/17/2022 at Medicaid.Gov Survey of pharmacy drug pricing)
QVAR REDIHALER 40 MCG $18.09 per gram
QVAR REDIHALER 80 MCG $24.25 per gram