QVAR® Dosing for Children
QVAR® may be used in children 5 years of age and older in the maintenance treatment of asthma as prophylactic therapy. It is the only small-particle ICS indicated for patients as young as 5 years of age. The safety and effectiveness of QVAR® in children below 5 years of age have not been established.1
| Recommended dosing for children 5 to 11 years1 |
|---|
| Patient’s Previous Therapy |
Recommended Starting Dose |
Highest Recommended Dose |
| Bronchodilators Alone |
40 µg twice daily |
80 µg twice daily |
| Inhaled Corticosteroids |
40 µg twice daily |
80 µg twice daily |
Patients should be instructed on proper inhaler technique. As with any ICS, the dose of QVAR® should be titrated downward over time to the lowest level that maintains proper asthma control.1
QVAR® can be used with or without a spacer.1 Using QVAR® without a spacer can eliminate the cost of a spacer for patients, as well as the need to train patients on spacer use and cleaning. These features may make QVAR® a good choice for patients who are transitioning off a nebulizer.
QVAR® Safety in Children
In two 12-week placebo controlled studies in steroid-naive pediatric patients 5 to 12 years of age, no clinically relevant differences were found in the pattern, severity, or frequency of adverse events compared with those reported in adults, with the exception of conditions which are more prevalent in a pediatric population generally.1
A reduction in growth velocity in growing children may occur as a result of inadequate control of chronic diseases such as asthma or from use of corticosteroids for treatment. Physicians should closely follow the growth of all pediatric patients taking corticosteroids by any route and weigh the benefits of corticosteroid therapy and asthma control against the possibility of growth suppression.1
The long-term and systemic effects of QVAR® in humans are still not fully known. In particular, the effects resulting from chronic use of the agent on developmental or immunologic processes in the mouth, pharynx, trachea, and lung are unknown.1
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).