Beclomethasone (Into the nose)

How to Use This Medicine

Powder Under Pressure, Spray, Solution

• Your doctor will tell you how much of this medicine to use and how often. Do not use more medicine or use it more often than your doctor tells you to.
• This medicine is for use only in the nose. Do not get any of it in your eyes or on your skin. If it does get on these areas, rinse it off right away.
• Qnasl?: Prime the new spray bottle before you use it for the first time. To prime the spray, first take the dust cap off the bottle. Hold the bottle upright and pointed away from your face. Spray 4 times into the air or until some medicine comes out. The dose counter on the bottle should show 120 after the spray has been primed.
• Beconase AQ®: Prime the new spray bottle before you use it for the first time. To prime the spray, first take the safety clip and dust cover off the bottle. Hold the bottle so it will spray away from your face. Press down on the white collar to spray 6 times into the air or until some medicine comes out.
• If you do not use this medicine for 7 days in a row or longer, you will need to prime the spray again.
• Shake the Beconase AQ® medicine bottle well before each use.
• Before using the medicine, gently blow your nose to clear the nostrils.
• After using the nasal spray, wipe the tip of the bottle with a clean tissue and put the cap back on.
• You may need to use this medicine for 1 to 2 weeks before you feel better. Do not stop using it without first asking your doctor.
• This medicine comes with patient instructions. Read and follow these instructions carefully. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions.

If a dose is missed:

• If you miss a dose or forget to use your medicine, use it as soon as you can. If it is almost time for your next dose, wait until then to use the medicine and skip the missed dose. Do not use extra medicine to make up for a missed dose.

How to Store and Dispose of This Medicine

• Keep the bottle tightly closed when not using it. Store at room temperature, away from heat and direct light.Do not freeze.
• Qnasl?: Do not leave the canister inside a car where it could be exposed to extreme heat or cold. Do not poke holes in the canister or throw it into a fire, even if the canister is empty.
• Ask your pharmacist, doctor, or health caregiver about the best way to dispose of any outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed. Throw away the Qnasl?: container when the counter shows 0.
• Keep all medicine away from children and never share your medicine with anyone.

Drugs and Foods to Avoid

Ask your doctor or pharmacist before using any other medicine, including over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.

• Make sure your doctor knows if you are also using any other steroid medicine, such as hydrocortisone, prednisone, or Orasone®.

Warnings While Using This Medicine

• Make sure your doctor knows if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you have asthma, tuberculosis (now or in the past), an infection (including a cold or the flu), a herpes simplex eye infection, a history of glaucoma or cataracts, or recent exposure to chicken pox or measles.
• Make sure your doctor knows if you have had nose surgery, a nose injury, or sores or ulcers in the nose. You may need to stop using the medicine to allow the nose to heal.
• This medicine may cause a nosebleed. This is usually mild and does not happen often. However, call your doctor right away if you have heavy bleeding or the nosebleed will not stop. Tell your doctor if you have frequent nosebleeds, bloody mucus, sores inside the nose, severe pain, or a whistling sound when you breathe through your nose.
• This medicine may cause thrush (a fungus infection) in the nose or throat. Tell your doctor right away if you have white patches in the throat, or pain when you eat or swallow.
• Check with your doctor right away if you have blurred vision, see halos around lights, or have any other changes in vision. You may need to have your eyes checked by an eye doctor.
• You may get infections more easily while you are using this medicine. Avoid close contact with anyone who has chicken pox or measles, especially if you have never had these infections before or have not been vaccinated against them. This is especially important for children. Tell your doctor right away if you think you have been exposed to chicken pox or measles.
• Using too much of this medicine or using it for a long time may increase your risk of adrenal gland problems. Talk to your doctor if you have more than one of these symptoms: darkening of the skin, diarrhea, dizziness, nausea, unusual tiredness or weakness.
• This medicine may cause children to grow more slowly than normal. This would cause a child not to gain weight or get taller. Talk with your child's doctor if you think your child is not growing properly or if you have any questions.
• If your symptoms do not improve or if they get worse, call your doctor.

Possible Side Effects While Using This Medicine

Call your doctor right away if you notice any of these side effects:

• Allergic reaction: Itching or hives, swelling in your face or hands, swelling or tingling in your mouth or throat, chest tightness, trouble breathing
• Dark freckles or other color changes on your skin, cold feeling, weakness, nausea, vomiting, weight loss
• Fever, chills, cough, sneezing, sore throat, and body aches
• Heavy or unexplained bleeding from your nose, bleeding that will not stop
• Red or white patches in your throat
• Severe coughing or wheezing
• Slowed growth in children
• Trouble seeing, vision changes

If you notice these less serious side effects, talk with your doctor:

• Burning, dryness, stinging, or irritation in the nose or throat
• Changes in taste or smell
• Gaining weight around your neck, upper back, breast, face, or waist
• Headache
• Sneezing, mild nose discomfort

If you notice other side effects that you think are caused by this medicine, tell your doctor

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088

Introduction

Beclomethasone (be-kloe-METH-a-sone)

Treats an itchy or runny nose, sneezing, or other symptoms caused by hay fever (allergic rhinitis). Also used to keep nasal polyps (growths) from growing back after they have been removed by surgery. This medicine is a steroid.

Brand Name(s)

Beconase AQ, Vancenase, Beconase, QNASL, Vancenase AQ, Vancenase AQ Double Strength

When This Medicine Should Not Be Used