Qvar vs. ProAir

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

Qvar (beclomethasone dipropionate) and ProAir (albuterol sulfate) are used to prevent and treat asthma.

ProAir is also used to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and to prevent exercise-induced asthma.

Qvar and ProAir belong to different drug classes. Qvar is a steroid and ProAir is a bronchodilator.

Side effects of Qvar and ProAir that are similar include nausea, vomiting, headache, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, cough, mouth/throat dryness or irritation, or hoarseness.

Side effects of Qvar that are different from ProAir include stomach upset, sinus pain, dry nose, unpleasant taste in the mouth, or deepened voice.

Side effects of ProAir that are different from Qvar include nervousness, shaking (tremor), dizziness, sleep problems (insomnia), muscle pain, or diarrhea.

Qvar may interact with other drugs.

ProAir may interact with other inhaled medicines, other asthma medicines, beta-blockers, diuretics, digoxin, monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), and antidepressants.

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 ProAir include:

• nervousness,
• shaking (tremor),
• headache,
• dizziness,
• mouth/throat dryness or irritation,
• sore throat,
• cough,
• nausea,
• vomiting,
• dizziness,
• sleep problems (insomnia),
• hoarseness,
• runny or stuffy nose,
• muscle pain, or
• diarrhea

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.

Proair (albuterol sulfate) is a bronchodilator that relaxes muscles in the airways and increases air flow to the lungs used to prevent and treat wheezing and shortness of breath caused by breathing problems such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Proair is also used to prevent exercise-induced asthma.

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.

ProAir may interact with other inhaled medicines, other asthma medicines, beta-blockers, diuretics, digoxin, monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), and antidepressants. Tell your doctor all medications and supplements you use. During pregnancy, ProAir should be used only if prescribed.

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..

ProAir is a dry powder inhaler supplied for 200 measured inhalation doses.