Qvar vs. Advair

• Are Qvar and Advair the Same Thing?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Qvar?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Advair?
• What Is Qvar?
• What Is Advair?
• What Drugs Interact with Qvar?
• What Drugs Interact with Advair?
• How Should Qvar Be Taken?
• How Should Advair Be Taken?

Qvar (beclomethasone dipropionate) and Advair HFA (salmeterol and fluticasone) are used to prevent and treat asthma attacks.

Advair HFA is also used to treat chronic bronchitis.

Both Qvar and Advair HFA contain a corticosteroid. Advair HFA also contains a beta2-adrenergic bronchodilator.

Side effects of Qvar and Advair HFA that are similar include nausea, vomiting, headache, sore throat, stuffy nose, sinus pain, dry mouth/nose/throat, hoarseness, or deepened voice.

Side effects of Qvar that are different from Advair HFA include stomach upset, cough, or unpleasant taste in the mouth.

Side effects of Advair HFA that are different from Qvar include upper respiratory tract infections, dizziness, diarrhea, oral thrush (mouth or throat candidiasis), and musculoskeletal pain.

Qvar may interact with other drugs.

Advair HFA may interact with amiodarone, diuretics (water pills), HIV medicines, MAO inhibitors, antidepressants, antibiotics, or beta-blockers.

Common side effects of Qvar include:

• stomach upset,
• nausea,
• vomiting,
• headache,
• sore throat,
• stuffy nose,
• sinus pain,
• cough,
• dryness in your mouth/nose/throat after use,
• unpleasant taste in the mouth,
• hoarseness, or
• deepened voice.

Common side effects of Advair include:

• upper respiratory tract infections,
• headaches,
• dizziness,
• nausea,
• vomiting,
• stomach upset,
• diarrhea,
• yeast infections of the mouth or throat (oral thrush),
• sore throat,
• dry mouth/nose/throat,
• stuffy nose,
• sinus pain,
• cough,
• sore throat,
• hoarseness or deepened voice, and
• musculoskeletal pain.

Qvar (beclomethasone dipropionate) is a steroid used to prevent asthma attacks. Qvar will not treat an asthma attack that has already begun. Qvar is available in generic form.

Advair Diskus (fluticasone and salmeterol oral inhaler) is a combination of a corticosteroid and a beta2-adrenergic bronchodilator used to treat asthma and chronic bronchitis, including COPD associated with chronic bronchitis. Advair Diskus is used in patients whose symptoms are not adequately controlled on a long-term asthma control medication, since one of the active ingredients in salmeterol is LABA, which has been linked to asthma-related deaths. Advair Diskus should not be used to treat acute episodes of asthma or COPD. Advair Diskus is available in generic form.

Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Qvar should be used only when prescribed during pregnancy. There are rare reports of harm to a fetus when the mother took other corticosteroids. Infants born to mothers who have been using high doses of beclomethasone for an extended time may have hormone problems. Tell your doctor if you notice symptoms such as persistent nausea/vomiting, severe diarrhea, or weakness in your newborn. It is not known if this medication passes into breast milk. Consult your doctor before breastfeeding.

Advair may interact with amiodarone, diuretics (water pills), HIV medicines, MAO inhibitors, antidepressants, antibiotics, or beta-blockers

The recommended dose of Qvar is 40 to 320 mcg twice daily for adults and 40 to 80 mcg twice daily for children. If you are also using a bronchodilator, use it first before using the beclomethasone inhaler. There may be other drugs that can interact with Qvar..

For patients aged 12 years and older, the dosage of Advair Diskus is 1 inhalation twice daily, approximately 12 hours apart.