Manufactured by Cipla.

Aerocort Inhaler (beclomethasone, levosalbutamol) is used to prevent difficulty breathing in patients who have a condition that impairs breathing; asthma, COPD, chronic bronchitis, and so on.

This product contains two active ingredients:

• Beclomethasone is an inhaled steroid which works by decreasing inflammation in the air passages, thought to be largely responsible for asthma and related conditions.
• Levosalbutamol is a short-acting bronchodilator that relaxes muscles in the air passages, making it easier to breathe.

Most patients who have asthma or a similar breathing ailment are familiar with the use of inhaled steroids for long-term control and short-acting bronchodilators for use as a rescue inhaler. Aerocort Inhaler combines both, though it's not meant to be used as a rescue inhaler; it should be used regularly over the long-term for long-term control. However, in a pinch it may work as a rescue inhaler.

Using Aerocort Inhaler

Aerocort Inhaler comes in several different strengths; the ideal dosage will be determined by a doctor who can take into account personal variables, such as age and weight, and of course the condition being treated and its severity. Other medications that influence the lungs may also call for adjusted dosage.

Each Aerocort Inhaler, regardless of its dosage strength, contains 200 metered doses. In adults, each dose consists of two inhalations. How often these two inhalations are repeated is more variable; anywhere from two to four times per day. Frequency of treatment is often variable to some degree, increasing as the condition does. Patients should avoiding using more than 12 inhalations per day unless explicitly instructed otherwise by a doctor.

It will take a few weeks of using Aerocort Inhaler every day for full benefit to be seen, though some improvement may be noticeable sooner. After that time patients can expect fewer attacks and, when attacks do occur, they'll be less severe. Some mild allergens may no longer trigger an attack, though severe allergens likely will and are best avoided.

Breathing ailments are complicated and not every medication will work as well for one patient as another. See the bottom of this article for other options if Aerocort Inhaler doesn't produce good results after a month or two of use.

Precautions & Side Effects

Aerocort Inhaler is unlikely to produce very serious side effects; most are mild, and often transient---they stop occurring after a few weeks of treatment. More common side effects include:

• Dry mouth, nose, or throat
• Nasal congestion
• Slight headache
• Insomnia
• Deepening of voice
• Tremors
• Oral thrush

Less common, but more serious, are the following:

• Rapid or irregular heartbeat
• Muscle pain
• Blurred eyesight
• Lung infections

The above should be discussed with a doctor if experienced.

Rarely some individuals have paradoxical bronchospasm, in which the medication does the opposite of what it's meant to do---makes breathing much more difficult. This is a medical emergency, and should be handled as such.

Be sure the prescribing physician is aware of any other major medical issues, including:

• Hypertension
• Hyperthyroidism
• Seizures
• Diabetes
• Heart conditions

Aerocort Inhaler can generally be used while pregnant or breastfeeding, though mothers may want to discuss potential risks with a doctor.

Other Options

There are numerous products similar to Aerocort Inhaler, with similar or differing ingredients. This list includes products which contain different ingredients, for those who can't take beclomethasone or levosalbutamol:

• Albuterol (also salbutamol or salbuterol) is the most widely-used rescue treatment in the world, now that epinephrine is off the market. On its own it provides little long-term prevention.
• Ipratropium bromide is another inhaled steroid, available on its own or in combination with albuterol.
• Fluticasone is another inhaled steroid; most people know this medication by the brand-name Advair. It is also available on its own or in combination with other medications.

There are several options to choose from among each topic in the above list. The full list of breathing and allergy medications can be found here. Scroll down to find the online doctor options for more powerful medications.