Soprobec

What is Soprobec?

Soprobec is an inhaler that uses a corticosteroid in the form of a pressurised metered dose inhaler (pMDI) to prevent the symptoms of asthma. You use it daily as a way to reduce the risk of having an asthma attack.

It comes in four different doses to target mild to severe asthma. You’ll usually start at the lowest dose that will help your condition which can be increased by your prescriber to keep your asthma controlled. Soprobec’s active ingredient, beclomethasone, targets the air passages in the lungs directly and is known for causing fewer side effects than oral corticosteroids. ^[1]

How does Soprobec work?

The active ingredient in Soprobec Inhaler is beclomethasone dipropionate. Beclomethasone is a type of steroid medication called a corticosteroid, which you can get as either an inhaler, cream, pill or nasal spray. Inhaled beclomethasone is used for the long-term treatment of asthma, and the cream can be used for chronic skin conditions like psoriasis.

Corticosteroids are anti-inflammatory, meaning they reduce the swelling and irritation in the walls of your airways, which helps to ease breathing problems caused by conditions like asthma. ^[2] They do this by mimicking the effects of hormones produced by your adrenal glands, which suppresses your immune system. ^[3] Using a corticosteroid inhaler helps to prevent and manage the symptoms of asthma.

What type of inhaler is Soprobec?

Soprobec is a preventer inhaler. You use this type of inhaler every day as a long-term treatment for your asthma, to help prevent an attack and reduce symptoms over time. If you’re having a sudden attack of asthma, and are experiencing wheezing and breathlessness, Soprobec Inhaler won’t help you in this case and you’ll need to use a rescue inhaler. Rescue or ‘reliever’ inhalers help treat symptoms of an asthma attack, so you should have one on you at all times.

What doses of Soprobec inhaler are there?

Which dose you take or start on will depend on how severe your asthma is. Your prescriber will be able to determine what dosage of Soprobec you need and how many puffs to take in a day. You may start on a lower dose at first to see how you get on with it.

Soprobec is available in four doses: 50, 100, 200 and 250 micrograms of beclomethasone dipropionate. The starting dose for adults is usually 200 micrograms, twice a day. So depending on what dosage your inhaler is, this is split between one to four puffs. Your clinician might recommend that you use a Volumatic spacer device, especially if you’re on a higher dose of Soprobec or struggle to coordinate your breathing with pressing your inhaler.

If you feel the dose you’re on isn’t controlling your symptoms, you may need to increase the dosage of your inhaler or how many puffs you’re taking a day. Let your clinician know if you think you need a higher dose.

How to use Soprobec

Before using the inhaler for the first time, or if it’s been three days or more since you last used it, you should check if the inhaler is working properly. You can do this by giving the inhaler a good shake and releasing a puff to ensure it’s working properly.

To use Soprobec:

• Remove the cap from the mouthpiece
• Breathe out slowly and as deeply as you can
• Put the mouthpiece in your mouth and hold it with your lips
• Take a deep breath in and press the top of the inhaler to release a puff at the same time
• Hold your breath for as long as is comfortable for you, then breathe out slowly
• If you need another puff, wait 30 seconds before repeating the steps
• Remove the mouthpiece and breathe out slowly

If you’re on a higher dose of Soprobec, or you’re having difficulty using the inhaler, use a Volumatic spacer device. This will make it easier to administer the medication. It also helps it to reach your lungs properly (rather than just the back of your throat) and you won’t have to coordinate your breathing with pressing the inhaler.

Even if you don’t have any symptoms, you still need to use your Soprobec inhaler every day.

How effective is Soprobec?

You may not feel the effects of Soprobec immediately compared to a ‘rescue’ inhaler. Some people notice that their symptoms improve after three to seven days. ^[2] The main advantage of using Soprobec or other beclomethasone inhalers is that it has a high topical activity compared to other corticosteroid inhalers. ^[1] What this means is that it reaches and is absorbed by the lungs directly rather than the rest of your system, which may increase its effectiveness. A daily dose of 200 to 600 mcg of beclomethasone causes fewer side effects than oral corticosteroids, especially when looking at adrenal function. ^[1] Adrenal function means looking at how well your adrenal glands are producing hormones. If they aren’t functioning properly (overactive or insufficient) this can cause health problems like adrenal insufficiency or Cushing’s syndrome.

In another study that looks at the safety and efficacy of beclomethasone inhalers, it was found that improvements were noticeable in both morning and evening peak flow (a test to see how strongly you can exhale), as well as a decrease in the use of reliever inhalers. ^[3] In a similar study, asthma control was improved in almost 50% of the patients and showed that the treatment was well-tolerated, including with smokers. ^[4]

What happens if I make a mistake using Soprobec?

If you take too much of your inhaler dose, seek medical attention as soon as possible. A doctor may need to check your cortisol levels. Cortisol is a steroid hormone that your body naturally produces. If you take too much inhaled corticosteroids this could lead to a suppression of adrenal function which can cause symptoms such as fatigue, muscle weakness, weight and appetite loss, and abdominal pain.

You should keep using your inhaler as instructed at the correct dosage to continue controlling your asthma. A doctor will advise you if your dosage needs to be increased or decreased.