Azmacort vs. Qvar

Azmacort (triamcinolone acetonide) Inhalation Aerosol and Qvar (beclomethasone dipropionate) are corticosteroids used to prevent asthma attacks.

Side effects of Azmacort and Qvar that are similar include nausea, stomach pain or upset, dryness in your mouth/nose/throat, stuffy nose, sinus pain, sore throat, cough, and hoarseness or deepened voice.

Side effects of Azmacort that are different from Qvar include diarrhea, joint or muscle pain, and white patches or sores inside your mouth or on your lips.

Side effects of Qvar that are different from Azmacort include vomiting, headache, and unpleasant taste in the mouth.

Both Azmacort and Qvar may interact with other drugs.

Side effects of Azmacort include:

• nausea
• diarrhea
• stomach pain
• joint or muscle pain
• dryness in your mouth/nose/throat
• white patches or sores inside your mouth or on your lips
• stuffy nose
• sinus pain
• sore throat
• cough
• hoarseness or deepened voice

Tell your doctor if you experience serious side effects of Azmacort including:

• weakness
• tired feeling
• loss of appetite
• weight loss
• wheezing or breathing problems after using Azmacortm
• skin rash
• bruising
• severe tingling
• numbness
• pain
• muscle weakness
• pain or burning when you urinate
• changes in the shape or location of body fat (especially in your arms, legs, face, neck, breasts, and waist)
• worsening asthma symptoms

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.

Azmacort (triamcinolone acetonide) Inhalation Aerosol is a corticosteroid used to prevent asthma attacks.

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.

Other drugs may interact with Azmacort. Tell your doctor all medications you are taking. Contact your doctor if your asthma medication is not working as well as usual as this may be an early sign of a serious asthma attack. Do not stop taking Azmacort unless directed to do so by your doctor. Talk to your doctor you are pregnant and taking Azmacort as you should only use Azmacort if the potential benefit outweighs the risk to the fetus. Consult your doctor before breastfeeding.

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.

The recommended dosage of Azmacort is two inhalations (150 mcg) given three to four times per day or four inhalations (300 mcg) given twice daily.

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.