Beclomethasone

Why should Beclomethasone not be prescribed?

Your doctor will prescribe beclomethasone only if your asthma cannot be controlled with bronchodilators and other nonsteroid medications.

Beclomethasone is not used for the treatment of non-asthmatic bronchitis, or for intermittent asthma therapy.

Do not use beclomethasone nasal products if you've recently had nasal ulcers, nose surgery, or an injury to the nose. It could interfere with the healing process.

If you are sensitive to or have ever had an allergic reaction to beclomethasone or other steroid drugs, you should not take this medication. Rare cases of immediate and delayed allergic reactions, such as hives, a rash, or wheezing, have occured. Make sure that your doctor is aware of any drug reactions that you have experienced.

Although unlikely, immediate allergic reactions to beclomethasone have been known to occur.

Special warnings about Beclomethasone

When steroid drugs are taken by mouth they substitute for and decrease the body's normal ability to make its own steroids as well as its ability to respond to stress.

There is a risk of causing a serious condition called "adrenal insufficiency" when people change from steroid tablets taken by mouth to aerosol beclomethasone. Although the aerosol may provide adequate control of asthma during the changeover period, it does not provide the normal amount of steroid the body needs during acute stress situations, such as injury, surgery, and infection—particularly stomach flu. If you are being transferred from steroid tablets to beclomethasone and you experience a period of stress or a severe asthma attack, contact your doctor immediately. He may prescribe additional treatment with steroid tablets. You should also carry a warning card indicating that you may need steroid tablets during such incidents. As you continue taking beclomethasone, your doctor may conduct periodic tests to measure your adrenal function.

Transfer from steroid tablet therapy to beclomethasone aerosol may reactivate allergic conditions that were previously suppressed by the steroid tablet therapy, such as runny nose, inflamed eyelids, and eczema. Some people also experience withdrawal side effects when they switch from tablets to aerosol. Potential symptoms include joint or muscle pain, weakness, and depression. Inform your doctor if you experience any of these symptoms.