Beclomethasone Dipropionate, Nasal

What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: corticosteroid

Generic and brand names: beclomethasone dipropionate, nasal; Beconase AQ Nasal Spray

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is sprayed in the nose to relieve irritation and nasal congestion caused by hay fever, allergies, and other nasal conditions.

This medicine may also be used to prevent nasal polyps after surgical removal.

What should my healthcare provider know before I take this medicine?

Before taking this medicine, tell your healthcare provider if you have:

• an allergy any medicine
• asthma
• a fungal, bacterial, or viral infection, including eye infections
• diabetes
• eye problems such as glaucoma or cataracts
• tuberculosis.

Tell your healthcare provider if you are taking prednisone or any other steroid by mouth. Also tell your provider if you have recently had an injury to your nose or surgery on your nose.

Females of childbearing age: Tell your healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while using this medicine. It is not known whether this medicine will harm an unborn baby. Do not breast-feed while using this medicine without your healthcare provider's approval.

How do I use it?

Carefully read the information sheet that comes in the medicine package. If you do not understand the directions or how to use the medicine, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist to explain.

Use this medicine regularly and exactly as your healthcare provider prescribes. Do not use more of it or use it more often than prescribed. Do not use this medicine for other conditions unless your healthcare provider approves. Do not stop using this medicine without your provider's approval.

Shake this medicine well before using.

Blow your nose before using the spray. If your nose is blocked, ask your healthcare provider about using a decongestant to clear your nasal passages before using the spray. Tilt your head slightly forward. Close one nostril with a finger and carefully insert the nasal applicator into the other nostril. For each spray, press firmly down on the pump or applicator. Breathe gently in through the nostril, then breathe out slowly through your mouth. Repeat in the other nostril. Do not blow your nose for 15 minutes after using this medicine. Be careful not to spray this medicine in your eyes.

If you miss a dose, use it as soon as you remember unless it is almost time for the next scheduled dose. In that case, skip the missed dose and use the next one as directed. Do not use double doses. If you are not sure of what to do if you miss a dose, or if you miss more than one dose, contact your healthcare provider.

What should I watch out for?

If you have switched from steroid tablets taken by mouth to this medicine, you may need extra doses of steroid tablets during periods of stress such as injury, surgery, infection, or severe asthma attacks. Talk with your healthcare provider about this.

You may get infections more easily when you are taking this medicine. Stay away from people with colds, flu, or other infections. If you are exposed to chickenpox or measles while taking this medicine, contact your healthcare provider right away. Also, do not have any vaccines without getting your healthcare provider's approval first.

This medicine may be absorbed into your body. If you use it for a long time, your healthcare provider will want to see you regularly to see how the medicine is affecting you. Keep all your appointments for checkups.

Contact your healthcare provider if your symptoms do not improve in 2 weeks or if they get worse. Also contact your healthcare provider if you develop any signs of an infection.

Rarely, this medicine may cause immediate or delayed allergic reactions. If you develop hives, a rash, itching, trouble breathing, or swelling of your lips, face, or tongue, contact your healthcare provider or get medical care right away.

If you need emergency care, surgery, or dental work, tell the healthcare provider or dentist you are taking this medicine.

This medicine may affect growth in children. Talk to your healthcare provider about this.

What are the possible side effects?

Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Life-threatening (Report these to your healthcare provider right away. If you cannot reach your healthcare provider right away, get emergency medical care or call 911 for help): Allergic reaction (hives; itching; rash; trouble breathing; tightness in your chest; swelling of your lips, tongue, and throat).

Serious (report these to your healthcare provider right away): Nosebleeds, bloody or crusty mucus, headache, trouble breathing, sore throat, loss of taste or smell, nausea, vomiting, swelling, wheezing, changes in vision, painful white or red patches inside your nose or mouth.

Other: Nasal burning or irritation, cough, nasal dryness, sneezing.

What products might interact with this medicine?

When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking:

• antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin (Cipro), clarithromycin (Biaxin) erythromycin (EES, E-mycin, Ery-Ped), and telithromycin (Ketek)
• antidepressants such as fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem), fluvoxamine (Luvox), and nefazodone
• antifungals such as itraconazole (Sporanox), fluconazole (Diflucan), and ketoconazole (Nizoral)
• grapefruit juice
• heart medicines such as amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacerone), diltiazem (Cardizem, Tiazac), and verapamil (Isoptin, Calan)
• heartburn medicine such as cimetidine (Tagamet)
• insulin or oral medicines for diabetes such as acetohexamide (Dymelor), glipizide (Glucotrol), glyburide (DiaBeta, Micronase, Glynase), glimepiride (Amaryl), tolazamide (Tolinase), tolbutamide, and metformin (Glucophage)
• medicines to treat HIV such as indinavir (Crixivan), nelfinavir (Viracept), ritonavir (Norvir), and saquinavir (Fortovase, Invirase)
• other corticosteroids such as cortisone (Cortone), dexamethasone, fludrocortisone (Florinef), hydrocortisone (Cortef, Hydrocortone, A-HydroCort), methylprednisolone (Medrol), prednisone (Meticorten, Orasone), and prednisolone (Delta-Cortef).

If you have your healthcare provider's approval to use other nasal sprays, use them 10 minutes before you use this medicine.

Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, nonprescription, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins) with you. Be sure that you tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.

How should I store this medicine?

Store this medicine at room temperature. Keep the container tightly closed. Protect it from heat, high humidity, and bright light.

This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.

Ask your pharmacist for the best way to dispose of outdated medicine or medicine you have not used. Do not throw medicine in the trash.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Do not share medicines with other people.