New Zealand’s only extrafine asthma preventer inhaler
Reference: 1. van den Berg M et al. Allergy 2013;68:16-26 2. Bjermer L. Curr Opin Pulm Med 2014;20:23-30. 3. Hirota N & Martin JG. Chest 2013 Sep;144(3):1026-32.
Ask your doctor if extrafine
QVAR is right for your child
Asthma is a disease caused by inflammation in the large and small airways – with the small airways making up an amazing 99% of the lung! 1
In children, uncontrolled or untreated small airway inflammation is related to permanent damage to the lung and irreversible loss of lung function. 2,3
EXTRAFINE QVAR is the only asthma preventer inhaler in New Zealand that reaches deep into your child’s lungs to treat inflammation in their small airways.
Small airways make up an amazing 99% of the lung!1
The small airways are involved in all stages of asthma including night-time asthma, exercise-induced asthma, allergy-induced asthma, difficult-to-control asthma and those at risk of repeated asthma exacerbations.1,2
In children, uncontrolled or untreated small airway inflammation is related to permanent damage to the lung and irreversible loss of lung function.2,3
QVAR is designed to treat inflammation of the lung in both the large and small airways.
The lungs are made up of large and small airways. Asthma is a disease of chronic lung inflammation that affects both the large and small airways.
If left untreated, this inflammation can cause damage to the airways in the lungs and can be associated with asthma attacks and difficulty breathing.
QVAR extrafine preventer inhaler contains very small particles of asthma medicine, small enough to reach and treat inflammation in both the large and also deep into the small airways of the lungs.
QVAR is twice-daily extrafine asthma preventer medicine for persistent mild-to-moderate asthma. The QVAR asthma inhaler is approved to help prevent asthma symptoms and is the only asthma preventer inhaler in New Zealand that can treat inflammation in the small airways.
QVAR is a daily extrafine inhaler that works over time to help control asthma symptoms
QVAR is an asthma control medicine made up of extrafine medicine particles. When inhaled, the extrafine particles of medicine are designed to travel through to the inflamed airways through the large branches deep into the small airways of the lungs. By reducing inflammation, the underlying cause of mild-to-moderate asthma, QVAR can help reduce the risk of asthma attacks and potentially prevent long term damage to the lung.
Maintaining long-term asthma control
QVAR is an extrafine asthma preventer medicine that should be taken every day to help keep asthma symptoms under control - even if you are feeling better and not experiencing symptoms.
Improvement may occur within 24 hours for some patients. Others may not feel the full benefits until they’ve been taking QVAR for 3-4 months or longer.
Forgetting to take asthma preventer medicine like QVAR - or stopping because your symptoms aren’t present - may increase the risk of asthma attacks.
It is also important to know what to do in an emergency. Get an Asthma Action Plan today from your healthcare provider.
Extrafine QVAR - the only preventer asthma inhaler in NZ to deliver medicine to your large and small airways
References: 1. van der Wiel E et al. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2013;131:646-57. 2. Bjermer L. Curr Opin Pulm Med 2014;20:23-30. 3. Hirota N & Martin JG. Chest 2013 Sep;144(3):1026-32.
Kids and QVAR
Enable the best possible future for them!
Why is treating small airways inflammation important?
· Small airways make up an amazing 99% of the
lung! 1
· In children, uncontrolled or untreated small
airway inflammation is related to permanent
damage to the lung and irreversible loss of lung
function. 2,3
Small airway inflammation is associated with: 2-4
· Irreversible loss of lung function
· Nocturnal asthma
· Allergy induced asthma
· Exercise induced asthma
· Difficult to control asthma
· Repeated asthma exacerbations
Only QVAR is small enough to reach and treat inflammation in the small airways. NONE of the other available asthma inhalers treat small airways inflammation.
An extrafine preventer asthma inhaler like QVAR is also a great option for kids, as you can use a lower dose of medicine (corticosteroid) to control their asthma.5
How your child should take QVAR
QVAR is approved for kids as young as five years and up, and can be taken by adults as well.
To help you make sure your child is using their QVAR inhaler properly, the KIDS AND QVAR Patient Brochure (Download PDF here) gives instructions on how to take a dose.
If your child has been prescribed QVAR, be sure to carefully follow the instructions provided by your healthcare provider:
- Children are generally prescribed one or two puffs of QVAR, twice daily.
- An easy way to make sure your child remembers to take QVAR twice a day is to take QVAR before they brush their teeth. That way it becomes a part of their daily routine.
- Once your child is stable and well controlled, healthcare professionals may decide to titrate down to the lowest does that provides effective asthma control.
Your child should use their asthma preventer inhaler every day, even when not experiencing symptoms.
References: 1. van den Berg M et al. Allergy 2013;68:16-26 2. Bjermer L. Curr Opin Pulm Med 2014;20:23-30. 3. Hirota N & Martin JG. Chest 2013 Sep;144(3):1026-32. 4. van der Wiel E et al. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2013;131:646-57. 5. Qvar Datasheet.
Frequently Asked Questions
How important is it to treat inflammation in the whole lung?
It is very important to treat inflammation in the whole lung. The small airways make up an amazing 99% of the volume of the lung.2
Extrafine QVAR is designed to reach and treat inflammation in the small airways.
It is the only preventer inhaler in New Zealand that does this. Check out the name of your inhaler, if it’s not QVAR, it may not be reaching and treating inflammation in your small airways, which make up 99% of the volume of your lung.
Can extrafine QVAR help control my child’s asthma but on a lower steroid dose?
Yes, an extrafine preventer inhaler like QVAR can be a great option for kids 5 years and up, as you can use a lower dose of medicine (corticosteroid) to control their asthma.
Can extrafine QVAR be used to treat nocturnal (night-time) or exercise-induced asthma as well?
Yes, small airways inflammation has been shown to be associated with nocturnal (or night-time) asthma, exercise-induced asthma, and allergy induced asthma.1
Several recent clinical and real world studies have confirmed that treatment of asthma with extrafine preventer inhalers like QVAR is associated with better asthma control than standard preventer inhalers.1
They concluded this was because extrafine preventer inhalers like extrafine QVAR produce medicine particles that are small enough to reach and treat inflammation in the small outer airways.1
Will I have to pay extra at the pharmacy for my extrafine QVAR inhaler?
No, like most other asthma inhalers the extrafine QVAR inhaler is ‘fully subsidised’, so the usual pharmacy dispensing fees that you normally pay should apply.
Is extrafine QVAR the same as combination inhalers?
Some asthma medications contain a combination of an ICS (inhaled corticosteroid) and a LABA (long-acting beta agonist). QVAR is different from combination products because there is only one drug in extrafine QVAR, an inhaled corticosteroid. QVAR is a part of a class of medications that doctors often prescribe first for treating mild-to-moderate persistent asthma.
Are you on more asthma medication than you need?
Check with your healthcare provider. As asthma symptoms come under control your doctor may recommend ‘stepping down’ from a combination-ingredient inhaler to a single-ingredient inhaler like extrafine QVAR.
When do I use the extrafine QVAR Inhaler?
Always take extrafine QVAR as your doctor has prescribed. The usual regimen is twice a day. To help you remember, try taking extrafine QVAR along with other daily activities, like brushing your teeth in the morning and at night, or while taking other ‘twice daily’ medications.
How do I take a dose from the QVAR inhaler?
It is easy! The QVAR Quick Guide (Download PDF here) gives instructions on how to take a dose from your QVAR extra-fine preventer inhaler.
With extrafine QVAR you do not need a spacer unless your inhaler technique is poor, but it is a good idea to breath hold for 5 seconds after inhaling a dose.
What do I need to know about using other medications while using QVAR?
Make sure your doctor knows about all the medications you are taking, as well as any dietary supplements or herbal remedies that you may be using. Your doctor may adjust your dose of QVAR or other medications depending on how they interact.
Does QVAR have side effects?
Like all medicines, QVAR has risks and benefits. Consumer Medicine Information can be obtained from here. Ask your doctor if QVAR is right for you. Always use strictly as directed. If symptoms continue or you have side effects see your healthcare professional.
References: 1. van der Wiel E et al. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2013;131:646-57. 2. van den Berg M et al. Allergy 2013;68:16-26
QVAR 50 Inhaler and QVAR 100 Inhaler are prescription medicines containing beclomethasone dipropionate 50 micrograms and 100 micrograms per dose. QVAR is used to reduce inflammation in the lungs and prevent asthma attacks. QVAR has risk and benefits. Consumer Medicine Information can be obtained from www.medsafe.govt.nz Ask your doctor if QVAR is right for you. Always use strictly as directed. If symptoms continue or you have side effects see your healthcare professional. QVAR is a fully funded Prescription Medicine. Normal doctor’s charges apply. Distributed in New Zealand by Radiant Health Ltd, Auckland. TAPS PP8067.