Beclazone is part of the corticosteroid family of drugs used for the preventative treatment of asthma. Corticosteroid appear naturally in the body and a re produced by the adrenal glands to perform many functions in the body, one of which is as a response to bodily inflammations. Beclazone is a synthetic corticosteroid for decreasing inflammation in the lungs.
Dosage
The usual prescribed dosage for Beclazone is for either two puffs twice daily or one puff four times daily. However you are advised to follow your doctor's advice when using this medication.
Do not exceed your doctor's prescribed dosage as this may result in serious or unwanted side effects.
Side Effects
Using Beclazone may result in experiencing unwanted side effects. The side effects affect everyone differently. Some of the side effects reported after using Beclazone include:
- yeast infection of the mouth
- throat irritation
- hoarseness
- coughing
Precautions
Before using Beclazone:
- Know that this medication does not relieve an asthma attack. Alternative medications such as Ventolin are needed for relief of such attacks.
- Inhalers may cause an unexpected increase in wheezing and difficulty breathing (paradoxical bronchospasm) straight after using them. If this happens, don't use the inhaler again, use your reliever inhaler to open your airways and consult your doctor.
- Inhaled corticosteroids can sometimes cause a fungal infection in the mouth called oral thrush. To minimise the chances of this you should rinse your mouth with water or clean your teeth after inhaling each dose. Using a spacer device can also help avoid this problem.
- Inhaled corticosteroids have considerably fewer side effects than steroids taken by mouth. However, when taken for long periods of time at high doses, inhaled steroids do have the potential to cause side effects such as glaucoma, cataracts, thinning of the bones (osteoporosis), slowed growth in children and adolescents, and to suppress the functioning of the adrenal glands (glands that produce natural steroid hormones). For this reason your doctor will prescribe the lowest effective dose to control your symptoms, and monitor for these side effects. It is recommended that children receiving long-term treatment with corticosteroids have their growth monitored. If a child's growth appears to be slowed your doctor may refer them to a paediatrician. For further information talk to your doctor or pharmacist.
- People with severe asthma should have regular blood tests to monitor the amount of potassium in their blood. This is because low oxygen levels in the blood (hypoxia) and various asthma medicines can lower blood potassium levels.
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