Qvar Easi-Breathe

What is Qvar Easi-Breathe inhaler?

Qvar Easi-Breathe is a corticosteroid inhaler used for asthma. You use it daily to reduce your symptoms and lower your risk of asthma attacks. It also helps to protect your lungs from long-term damage caused by asthma.

Qvar Easi-Breathe is a bit unique among inhalers containing steroids. It’s better than other steroid inhalers at targeting the lungs directly. So it can get to work more easily against asthma and it causes fewer side effects. It’s called an Easi-Breathe inhaler because it’s so simple to use. You just have to breathe in and you’re protected for the day.

Is Qvar Easi-Breathe a rescue inhaler?

Qvar Easi-Breathe is a preventer inhaler. This means you use it everyday, whether you’re having symptoms or not. It reduces your chances of having an asthma attack over time. It’s not a rescue inhaler, so it won’t stop an asthma attack while you’re having one. If you’re using a preventer inhaler like the Qvar Easi-Breathe, you’ll often have a rescue inhaler prescribed too. Talk to your clinician if you don’t have a rescue inhaler right now.

How does the Qvar Easi-Breathe inhaler work?

The active ingredient in the Qvar Easi-Breathe inhaler is beclometasone dipropionate. It’s one of a type of medications called corticosteroids. Corticosteroids help control your asthma by reducing the inflammation in your airways. They ‘switch off’ lots of genes that create inflammation. This reduces swelling and irritation, making breathing easier. Using corticosteroid inhalers can also stop your asthma from getting worse over time and causing damage to your airways.

The beclometasone in Qvar Easi-Breathe is more topically active than other corticosteroid inhalers. This means it affects the lungs more directly as you breathe in, which could make it more effective. As less of it is absorbed from the lungs to the rest of your system, it’s also less likely to cause side effects than other corticosteroid inhalers.

What doses of Qvar Easi-Breathe inhaler are there?

The Qvar Easi-Breathe inhaler comes in two forms. One gives you a 50mcg dose of the active ingredient beclomethasone dipropionate per puff. The other is twice as powerful, giving you 100mcg of beclomethasone per puff. The dosage range for Qvar Easi-Breathe is between 100mcg and 800mcg a day. You’ll usually take at least two puffs a day.

Which dose you use will depend on how severe your asthma is. A clinician will tell you exactly how many puffs of Qvar Easi-Breathe to take. If the dose you’re on now isn’t controlling your asthma, you may need to take more puffs. Go back and talk to your clinician if you think you need a higher dose.

How to use Qvar Easi-Breathe inhaler

If you’re using your Qvar Easi-Breathe inhaler for the first time, or it’s been two weeks since you last used it, you should test it. To do this, unscrew the top so you can see the metal can. Open the cap and release two puffs into the air by pressing twice on the can. Then replace the cap.

Always use the Qvar Easi-Breathe inhaler exactly as your clinician tells you.

• First, open the cap so you can access the mouthpiece. Just flip the cover open while holding the inhaler upright
• Breathe out normally until your lungs are empty of air
• Next, put the mouthpiece between your lips and form a seal
• Make sure the inhaler is still upright and that your hands aren’t covering any of the air holes at the top
• Breathe in slowly and deeply. The inhaler should puff into your mouth. Keep breathing in until your lungs are full of air
• Take the inhaler out of your mouth and hold your breath for ten seconds, or for as long as you can
• Breathe out and put the cap back on

If you need to take more than one puff of your inhaler, wait for a minute or so and then repeat the process.

How long does it take Qvar Easi-Breathe inhaler to work?

The beclometasone in Qvar Easi-Breathe is absorbed through the lungs rapidly. It reaches peak concentration levels in your system after 30 minutes. So Qvar Easi-Breathe should start improving your asthma symptoms pretty quickly.

But as it’s a long-term preventative treatment, its effects also build up and become stronger over time. You shouldn’t stop using Qvar Easi-Breathe unless your clinician tells you to. If you feel like it’s not working for you, or you need a rescue inhaler too, go back to your clinician or message us if you’re using our service.

What should I do if I make a mistake when using the Qvar Easi-Breathe inhaler?

Only take the dose you’re prescribed by your clinician. If you forget to use Qvar Easi-Breathe at the right time, use it when you remember. If it’s nearly time to take your next puffs, you can skip the missed ones and carry on with treatment as normal. If you keep forgetting to use your Qvar Easi-Breathe inhaler, you might want to try setting an alarm or using a reminder app on your phone. You could also try making a routine, like taking your recommended doses when you wake up and before you go to bed.

Don’t take more than your recommended number of puffs to make up for missing some. If you accidentally take too many puffs of Qvar Easi-Breathe, get medical attention. When you need to clean the mouthpiece of your inhaler, use a dry cloth or tissue. Don’t get it wet. If you get water in your inhaler it might not work properly and you should replace it.