What is Qvar Redihaler? Uses, warnings & side effects

Follow all the prescriber’s instructions. Do not take more doses than prescribed or take them more often than prescribed.

Please read the Patient Information sheet and the Instructions for Use that come with this medicine.

Inhale two doses per day.

Each dose consists of one or more inhalations depending on the prescription.

Do not stop taking doses even if you feel better.

Using the inhaler:

• Each inhaler contains 120 doses.

• There is no canister.

• Do not prime the inhaler.

• Do not shake the inhaler, especially if the cap is off.

• Do not use a spacer or volume holding container with the inhaler.

• Never breathe out into the inhaler or it may get damaged.

• Keep the inhaler and mouthpiece clean and dry at all times. 

• Clean the mouthpiece weekly with a dry cloth or tissue. 

• Never wash or rinse the inhaler with water.

• Never put the inhaler in water.

• Do not take the inhaler apart.

Taking a dose:

• Do not remove the cap until ready to administer a dose.

• Hold the inhaler at the bottom. Do not cover the vents at the top of the inhaler when inhaling a dose.

• Remove the white cap.

• Hold the inhaler upright.

• Breathe out fully.

• Place the mouthpiece in your mouth and close your lips around it.

• Breathe in as deeply as you can.

• Hold your breath for five to 10 seconds.

• Breathe out slowly away from the inhaler.

• Close the cap.

• If the doctor has prescribed more than one inhalation per dose, close the cap after each inhalation. Remove the cap when ready to breathe in the next dose.

• Rinse your mouth with water and spit it out.

Dispose of the inhaler when the dose counter reaches “0” (and turns red) or after the expiration date has passed. Do not throw it away into a fire or incinerator.

Store QVAR at room temperature protected from extreme heat or cold.

Do not expose the canister to open flame or heat (above 120˚F). 

Do not take the missed dose.

Take the next dose at its regular time.

Do not take two doses to make up for a missed dose.

This medicine is not right for everyone. 

Do not use it if you have had an allergic reaction to beclomethasone.

Do not use QVAR RediHaler as a rescue inhaler during an asthma attack.

Tell any doctor or other healthcare provider who treats you that you are using this medicine. 

The prescriber needs to visit with you and perform regular tests to monitor therapy. Keep all appointments.

Tell the prescriber if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or have:

• Weak bones or osteoporosis

• Immune system problems

• Eye problems including glaucoma, high eye pressure, cataracts, or blurred vision

• Any active or untreated infection

• Any past herpes infection of the eyes

QVAR can cause serious problems including:

• Infections

• Yeast infections of the mouth (thrush)

• Adrenal gland insufficiency

• Sudden difficulty breathing immediately after taking a dose

• Loss of bone density

• Eye problems including glaucoma, increased eye pressure, or cataracts

• Slowed growth (in children)

You may get more infections using this medicine. Avoid people who are sick or have infections. Inform the prescriber immediately if you or a child using QVAR have been exposed to chickenpox or measles.

QVAR will not stop an asthma attack that has already started. Always carry a rescue inhaler for acute asthma attacks. 

Call the doctor if symptoms do not improve or the medicine does not seem to be working.

To avoid possible drug interactions, tell the prescribing healthcare provider about all prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and herbal supplements you use.

For people currently taking oral corticosteroids to treat their asthma or COPD, switching to QVAR may cause serious or even life-threatening problems due to adrenal gland insufficiency. 

• The dose of oral corticosteroids will need to continue with gradually decreasing doses for several months after switching to QVAR. 

• During this time, patients may need to start retaking oral corticosteroids in times of stress, infections, injury, surgery, or severe asthma attacks.

• People may start to experience allergic symptoms that have been suppressed by the oral corticosteroid.

• People may experience steroid withdrawal symptoms.

Tell other healthcare providers you are using this medicine before they prescribe new medications.