inhaler use

[sam12]

hi

would any one know if beclometasone inhaler be prescribed to infants a few weeks old

[johnep]

I would advise only under care of hospital specialist. You will need an expansion chamber and these do have a mask for infants.
johnep

[sam12]

The beclometasone inhaler was issued by a community doctor for 30 week old child, dose 100mcg twice daily , wasnt sure if it was appropriate as their is no information available

[johnep]

Look in the childrens BNF. I would comment;
1) Dose should be lowest available ie 25mcg if available, otherwise 50mcg.
2)Trust Qvar was not prescribed or dispensed, double potency of standard.
johnep

[sam12]

thanks for the answer johnep the issue is that there is no information available neither in the children bnf or internet regarding use of beclometasone in infants. if there is no information available what would from pharmacist perspective be best option to dispense it, (it was queryed with gp he said to proceed ) .the issue is suitability and safety in using beclometasone.

[GAZ]

you've done as much as you can - bits of information I would be interested in knowing: how long are the going to use the inhaler for? are they going to be reassed in the very near future? do the parent's/guardians etc know what to do? AND if it's the GP who's prescribing this, is it something they've done before or that they are aware of been used before? - ALSO, you could contact the pharmacy dept of (for example) B'ham Children's Hospital for advice? - WHATEVER YOU DO....LOG WHAT YOU'VE DONE!!

[johnep]

At the front of the BNF is a list of numbers to 'phone for medical information service. Have you tried your nearest?
johnep

[sam12]

the only referance source was another pharmacist who had come across the use of beclometasone in young children and checked with the doctor. doctor prescribed 100mcg bd got dose reduced and item was dispensed.The one thing in practice is time limitation and working in busy pharmacy you cant find the time to use different sources think about about questioning. thanks for the advice next time theirs an issue would consider information services.

[bobbin]

the only referance source was another pharmacist who had come across the use of beclometasone in young children and checked with the doctor. doctor prescribed 100mcg bd got dose reduced and item was dispensed.The one thing in practice is time limitation and working in busy pharmacy you cant find the time to use different sources think about about questioning. thanks for the advice next time theirs an issue would consider information services.

To be fair, infants may require higher than expected doses of inhaled medications. They don't exactly have good inhaler technique! Even with a spacer - little of the drug may reach the lungs.