FDA-filed SPL labeling · retrieved through openFDA

Beclomethasone Nasal Spray

Beclomethasone nasal spray is a corticosteroid used to relieve nasal symptoms of seasonal and perennial allergic rhinitis (hay fever and year-round allergies) in adults, adolescents, and children.

Brand names Beconase AQQnaslVancenase AQQvarBeconase
Drug class Corticosteroid
Rx Form 1 Route Nasal
Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
Reviewed by Last reviewed Jul 10, 2026
🧬 Where this information comes from Click to expand

The clinical label records used on this page are FDA-filed Structured Product Labeling (SPL) retrieved through openFDA. We identified 1 clinical label set within the page’s selected clinical scope after exact ingredient or ingredient-combination matching and applicable route/form matching. Forms, routes, brands, labelers, strengths, and NDC product-record counts are built separately from matching FDA National Drug Code Directory records. The linked DailyMed document is a representative official source for verification, not the page’s only clinical source. View the linked label on DailyMed →

At a glance
Linked label effectiveSep 27, 2022
AvailabilityRx
Earliest approval/marketing year 1976
FDA-listed product records 4
Boxed warningNone found in compared labels
How we combine label and product data →
No current FDA shortage listed · checked Sep 23, 2026
Beclomethasone Nasal Spray at a glance The quick version — the full detail is in the Patient Information Guide below.
💊
HelloPharmacist Editorial Team Bottom Line
Beclomethasone nasal spray is a well-established corticosteroid that relieves the nasal symptoms of seasonal and perennial allergic rhinitis when sprayed into the nostrils once daily. It works locally in the nose with limited absorption into the bloodstream at recommended doses. Use it consistently as prescribed, watch for nosebleeds or nasal soreness, and make sure children's growth is monitored with long-term use.

📖 Beclomethasone Nasal Spray: Patient Information Guide

A plain-language walkthrough of Beclomethasone Nasal Spray — what it treats, how it works, how it’s taken, side effects, warnings and interactions. Tap any section to expand it.

🎯What it's used for

Beclomethasone nasal spray is a corticosteroid used to treat allergic rhinitis — both seasonal and year-round types. Here is what the supported products are approved for:

  • Qnasl Nasal Aerosol: treats nasal symptoms of seasonal allergic rhinitis (such as hay fever) and perennial allergic rhinitis (year-round allergies) in patients 4 years of age and older
⚙️How it works

Beclomethasone dipropionate is a corticosteroid with potent anti-inflammatory effects. Once sprayed into the nose, it is quickly converted to its active form, beclomethasone-17-monopropionate, which binds tightly to glucocorticoid receptors inside nasal tissue. This calms overactive immune cells — including mast cells, eosinophils, and lymphocytes — and blocks the release of allergy chemicals like histamine and leukotrienes that cause congestion, sneezing, and runny nose.

Because it acts primarily at the site where it is applied, relatively little reaches the bloodstream compared with oral or inhaled corticosteroids, which helps limit whole-body (systemic) side effects at recommended doses.

💊How it's taken

Beclomethasone nasal spray is administered directly into the nostrils, typically once daily. The appropriate strength and number of sprays per nostril depend on the patient's age — follow your prescriber's instructions and the product's Instructions for Use leaflet exactly.

  • Qnasl Nasal Aerosol does not need to be primed before use
  • It is for intranasal use only — not for swallowing or inhaling into the lungs
  • If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember; if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed one and resume your regular schedule
🤒Side effects — in detail

Most people tolerate beclomethasone nasal spray well, but some side effects can occur. Common ones include:

  • Nosebleeds (epistaxis) — the most frequently reported side effect, especially with longer-term use
  • Nasal discomfort or irritation
  • Headache
  • In children: fever, upper respiratory tract infection, and nasopharyngitis (nose and throat irritation)
  • Sneezing or a burning sensation (reported after Qnasl Nasal Aerosol use)

More serious reactions — including vision changes, severe nasal sores, signs of a significant allergic reaction (hives, facial swelling, difficulty breathing), or loss of taste and smell — have been reported and require prompt medical attention.

⚠️Warnings & precautions
  • Nosebleeds and nasal damage: Nosebleeds occurred in about 11% of long-term Qnasl users versus 2% on placebo. Nasal erosions and ulcers have also been reported. Avoid use after recent nasal surgery or injury until fully healed. Report persistent soreness or sores inside the nose to your doctor.
  • Eye problems: Nasal corticosteroids can raise pressure inside the eye (increasing glaucoma risk) and promote cataract formation. People with a history of eye pressure problems, glaucoma, or cataracts should be monitored closely.
  • Slowed growth in children: Intranasal corticosteroids may slow the rate of growth in children. Regular height monitoring is recommended for all pediatric patients using this spray.
  • Infections: Corticosteroids can worsen certain infections, including tuberculosis, fungal infections, and viral illnesses like chickenpox and measles. Tell your doctor about any active or recent infections.
  • Adrenal suppression: Very high doses or long-term use at any dose in susceptible individuals can suppress the adrenal glands. Do not stop the spray abruptly if this is suspected — taper slowly under medical guidance.
  • Allergic reactions: Rare but serious hypersensitivity reactions, including anaphylaxis (a severe whole-body allergic reaction) and angioedema (deep swelling), have been reported.
🔀What it interacts with

No formal drug interaction studies have been conducted with Qnasl Nasal Aerosol. However, beclomethasone dipropionate is metabolized by the CYP3A4 enzyme system in the liver, so medicines that affect this pathway could theoretically alter how the drug is processed. Always tell your prescriber and pharmacist about all medicines, supplements, and vitamins you take.

  • CYP3A4 inhibitors (certain antifungals, HIV medications, and others): may potentially increase corticosteroid levels in the body — discuss with your doctor or pharmacist

This is not a complete list of interactions. Always talk with your doctor or pharmacist before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.

📋Before taking it
  • Do not use if you have ever had an allergic reaction to beclomethasone dipropionate or any ingredient in the product
  • Tell your doctor if you have had recent nasal ulcers, nasal surgery, or nasal trauma — wait until healed before starting
  • Tell your doctor if you have or have had glaucoma, cataracts, or increased eye pressure
  • Tell your doctor about any active infections, including tuberculosis, fungal infections, or ocular herpes simplex
  • Pregnancy: No well-controlled human studies exist; animal studies showed harm at high doses. Discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor
  • Breastfeeding: It is unknown whether beclomethasone passes into breast milk; talk to your doctor before using
  • Children under 4: Safety and effectiveness have not been established — do not use in this age group
  • Older adults: Use with caution; age-related changes in organ function may affect how the drug is handled, and closer monitoring may be needed
🚑If you take too much

Taking more than the recommended amount over a long period may lead to signs of hypercorticism (too much corticosteroid in the body) — such as unusual weight gain, fluid retention, or extreme fatigue. There are no specific data on acute overdose with Qnasl Nasal Aerosol. If you think you or someone else has used too much, contact a poison control center or seek medical attention promptly.

📡Pharmacodynamics — effects in the body

Studies measured how Qnasl Nasal Aerosol affects the body's adrenal gland function by tracking cortisol (the body's natural stress hormone) levels over 24 hours. In both adult/adolescent and pediatric studies lasting 6 weeks, cortisol levels in patients using Qnasl Nasal Aerosol were similar to those using a placebo — meaning the spray, at recommended doses, did not meaningfully suppress the adrenal glands. This is an important safety signal, suggesting the spray mainly acts locally in the nose rather than causing significant whole-body hormonal effects at standard doses.

🔬Pharmacokinetics — how your body processes it

After being sprayed into the nose, beclomethasone dipropionate is rapidly converted during absorption into its active form, beclomethasone-17-monopropionate. This active form binds strongly to proteins in the blood (about 94–96%) and is broken down primarily by the CYP3A4 enzyme in the liver. The active metabolite has a short half-life of roughly 2.8 to 4.5 hours, and it does not build up in the body with once-daily dosing. More than 90% of the drug and its byproducts are eliminated through the feces, with less than 10% leaving through the urine.

📦How to store it

store near heat or open flame. Store at temperature between 20° and 25°C (68° and 77°F); excursions are permitted between 15° and 30°C (59° and 86°F). Keep out of reach of children.

📄 Written from Beclomethasone Nasal Spray’s FDA-approved label information, summarized in plain language with AI, and reviewed by our pharmacy team before publication. Every point is grounded in that labeling — nothing is invented. How we use AI →

🩺 Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Quick, plain-English answers to the questions patients ask most about Beclomethasone Nasal Spray — the kind of thing our pharmacy team would talk through with you at the counter.

What exactly does this nasal spray do — will it stop my sneezing right away?
Beclomethasone nasal spray reduces the inflammation in your nasal passages that drives allergy symptoms like sneezing, congestion, and a runny nose. Unlike a decongestant, it doesn't kick in immediately — it works best when used consistently every day, and most people notice meaningful improvement after a few days to a couple of weeks of regular use. Stick with your once-daily routine even on days when you feel okay.
I keep getting nosebleeds — is that normal with this spray?
Unfortunately, nosebleeds are the most commonly reported side effect, especially with longer-term use. In studies, they were more frequent with the spray than with placebo. Mild nosebleeds are not unusual, but if they're happening often, are heavy, or won't stop, let your doctor know. Also make sure you're aiming the spray toward the outer wall of your nostril, not toward the middle wall (septum), which can help reduce irritation.
Is it safe to use this spray in my 6-year-old?
Qnasl Nasal Aerosol is approved for children 4 years and older, so a 6-year-old is within the approved age range. That said, there's one thing to keep an eye on: nasal corticosteroids can sometimes slow a child's growth rate with long-term use. It doesn't happen in every child, and the benefit of controlling allergy symptoms usually outweighs this risk — but your child's doctor should check their height regularly while they're using it.
Do I need to prime the spray before using it for the first time?
Good question — and the answer depends on your specific product. Qnasl Nasal Aerosol does NOT require priming before first use, which is different from some other nasal sprays. Check the illustrated Instructions for Use leaflet that comes in the box for your product, and follow those steps carefully to make sure you're getting each dose properly.
I'm pregnant — is this spray safe to use?
There aren't any well-controlled studies of this spray in pregnant women, so we can't give you a definitive "safe" or "not safe" answer. Animal studies at very high doses showed some developmental effects, though at normal human doses the risk appears low. The best thing to do is have an honest conversation with your OB or prescriber about whether the benefits of controlling your allergy symptoms outweigh any potential risk during your pregnancy.
Can I just stop using this spray whenever I want, or do I need to taper off?
For most people using this spray at the recommended dose for a typical allergy season, stopping is straightforward — you can generally stop when you no longer need it without tapering. However, if you've been using it for a long time or at higher doses, it's worth checking with your doctor before stopping abruptly, as prolonged use can sometimes affect your body's natural hormone production. When in doubt, ask your prescriber first.
Is Beclomethasone Nasal Spray available over the counter?
Beclomethasone Nasal Spray is dispensed by prescription according to its FDA labeling, so it isn't sold over the counter. Your prescriber and pharmacist will determine if it's appropriate for you.
When was Beclomethasone Nasal Spray first available?
Beclomethasone Nasal Spray has been available in the United States since at least 1976, based on FDA approval history (Drugs@FDA) and product marketing records.
Who makes Beclomethasone Nasal Spray?
Beclomethasone Nasal Spray is supplied by 2 manufacturers listed in the FDA NDC Directory, including GlaxoSmithKline LLC, Teva Respiratory, LLC.

💬 Answers drafted from Beclomethasone Nasal Spray’s FDA-approved label information, summarized in plain language with AI, and reviewed by our pharmacy team before publication. Grounded in that labeling — nothing is made up. How we use AI →

🧰 Keep exploring

💊 How Beclomethasone Nasal Spray comes

Beclomethasone Nasal Spray is available in 1 form. Different forms and brands can have different approved uses, doses, schedules, and directions. Follow the instructions for your exact product, and do not switch forms without guidance from your prescriber or pharmacist.

Nasal spray

In the nose
Brands Beconase Qnasl
How this form is used
What it may be used for
  • Qnasl Nasal Aerosol is approved to treat nasal symptoms of seasonal and perennial allergic rhinitis in patients 4 years of age and older
Important instructions
  • Qnasl Nasal Aerosol is for intranasal (into the nostril) use only — do not swallow or inhale into the lungs
  • Qnasl Nasal Aerosol does not require priming before first use
  • Adults and adolescents (12 and older): Qnasl Nasal Aerosol is used as 2 sprays into each nostril once daily
  • Children aged 4 to 11: Qnasl 40 mcg Nasal Aerosol is used as 1 spray into each nostril once daily — follow the illustrated Instructions for Use leaflet
Available strengths 3 strengths
4 FDA-listed product records

📊 Beclomethasone Nasal Spray across the U.S. market

How Beclomethasone Nasal Spray appears in the FDA’s National Drug Code Directory — including its dosage forms, strengths, brand names, manufacturers, and FDA-listed product records. These are directory records, not sales or prescription volume.

1
Dose forms
2
Manufacturers
2
Brand names
4
FDA-listed product records
1976
First marketed
GlaxoSmithKline LLC50%
Teva Respiratory, LLC50%

Share of FDA-listed product records by manufacturer — FDA National Drug Code Directory. Record counts are not sales or prescription volume.

📈 How widely Beclomethasone Nasal Spray is used

A general measure of how commonly Beclomethasone Nasal Spray is prescribed, based on Medicaid — one of the largest public drug programs. The figure below is prescriptions filled in Q1–Q4 2025, summed across every form and brand of the drug.

Think of this as a proxy for how widely Beclomethasone Nasal Spray is used, drawn from freely available public data. Medicaid is just one program — these numbers don’t include Medicare, other government coverage, or commercial and cash-pay prescriptions, so real-world use is higher than what’s shown here.

8,632
Medicaid prescriptions filled (Q1–Q4 2025)
$2.8M gross Medicaid reimbursement (before mandatory rebates — net cost is lower)

How commonly is Beclomethasone Nasal Spray prescribed? Of the 1,596 medications we measure, Beclomethasone Nasal Spray ranks #954 by Medicaid prescriptions — more than 40% of them.

Where Beclomethasone Nasal Spray ranks among the drugs we measure · Q1–Q4 2025 · neighbors ±5

Utilization by Beclomethasone Nasal Spray product

Pick a product to see its own Medicaid numbers. Each chip is one clinical product — a specific strength & dosage form as defined by RxNorm — with brand-name and generic versions combined.

The 0.08 mg/actuation metered dose nasal spray is the most-dispensed Beclomethasone Nasal Spray product — about 83% of these Medicaid prescriptions.

beclomethasone dipropionate 0.08 MG/ACTUAT Metered Dose Nasal Spray Most dispensed

7,193 Medicaid prescriptions (Q1–Q4 2025) 83% of Beclomethasone Nasal Spray prescriptions shown $2.3M gross reimbursement (before rebates) ≈ $322 per prescription (gross)

Summed across the 1 of 3 listed NDC products with Medicaid activity — every brand and generic of this exact strength & form. RxNorm 1797920

beclomethasone dipropionate 0.04 MG/ACTUAT Metered Dose Nasal Spray

1,439 Medicaid prescriptions (Q1–Q4 2025) 17% of Beclomethasone Nasal Spray prescriptions shown $470,767 gross reimbursement (before rebates) ≈ $327 per prescription (gross)

Summed across the 1 of 2 listed NDC products with Medicaid activity — every brand and generic of this exact strength & form. RxNorm 1797900

Shares are of the Medicaid prescriptions shown here. Product grouping follows RxNorm (the National Library of Medicine’s drug terminology), so “one product” means one strength & dosage form regardless of manufacturer. Dollar figures are gross Medicaid reimbursement before mandatory rebates — rebates (often large, especially for brand-name drugs) are confidential, so actual net cost to Medicaid is lower than shown.

Source: Medicaid State Drug Utilization Data (CMS), aggregated by generic ingredient — summed across every NDC (all brands, strengths, salt forms and dosage forms) of Beclomethasone Nasal Spray, and across all states and both fee-for-service and managed-care claims. A general popularity signal; it excludes Medicare, commercial insurance and cash prescriptions, so it is not total U.S. use. Based on the 2 of 5 listed Beclomethasone Nasal Spray NDCs with Medicaid activity.

🔍 Compare Beclomethasone Nasal Spray products

A representative set of FDA-listed product records for Beclomethasone Nasal Spray — across manufacturers, strengths, and dosage forms, grouped by form with each product’s manufacturer and how the FDA approved it. The same medicine may be made and packaged by different companies, so a single drug can have many directory entries. (It’s also why a refill can look different — a new shape, color, or box — even though it contains the same medication.)

Strength Route Manufacturer / Labeler Category Details
💊Nasal spray
42 mcg Nasal GlaxoSmithKline LLC × 2 listings NDA View NDC →
40 mcg Nasal Teva Respiratory, LLC NDA View NDC →
80 mcg Nasal Teva Respiratory, LLC NDA View NDC →

Showing 4 of 4 products — FDA National Drug Code Directory. See every product, package size and price: browse all 4 Beclomethasone Nasal Spray NDCs →

RxNorm Concept Web — From Ingredient to Every Form and Strength

This page starts with one ingredient concept (IN). The branches below show its dose-form concepts (SCDF), then the available clinical drug and strength concepts (SCD). Combination products remain separate concepts with their own pages.

Ingredient (IN) Beclomethasone Nasal Spray RxCUI 1347 5 dose forms · 11 strengths
  1. Dose form (SCDF) Metered Dose Nasal Spray RxCUI 1797899 In current FDA listings
    Clinical drug / strength (SCD) dipropionate 0.04 MG/ACTUAT RxCUI 1797900 dipropionate 0.042 MG/ACTUAT RxCUI 1797910 dipropionate 0.08 MG/ACTUAT RxCUI 1797920 dipropionate 0.084 MG/ACTUAT RxCUI 1797926
  2. Dose form (SCDF) Nasal Spray RxCUI 370992 In current FDA listings
    Clinical drug / strength (SCD) 0.05 MG/ACTUAT RxCUI 562655
  3. Dose form (SCDF) Topical Cream RxCUI 379378 No current FDA listing
    Clinical drug / strength (SCD) dipropionate 0.25 MG/ML RxCUI 966765
  4. Dose form (SCDF) Topical Ointment RxCUI 376446 No current FDA listing
    Clinical drug / strength (SCD) dipropionate 0.00025 MG/MG RxCUI 966629

Look up RxCUI 1347 in the RxCUI Atlas →

RxNorm is the U.S. National Library of Medicine’s normalized drug vocabulary. Its concept hierarchy can include forms that are not currently marketed; the status on each branch compares that concept with current FDA listings. RxCUIs identify vocabulary concepts, not individual packages or manufacturers.

🏷️ Sold under these brand names

Beconase AQ Qnasl Vancenase AQ Qvar Beconase

🏭 Manufacturers & labelers

GlaxoSmithKline LLC 2 Teva Respiratory, LLC 2

RxNorm drug class

Beclomethasone Nasal Spray belongs to the Corticosteroid class.

Pharmacologic class Corticosteroid
Drug family (ATC) Corticosteroids acting locally, Corticosteroids, potent (group III), Corticosteroids
How it works Corticosteroid Hormone Receptor Agonists

Classified by RxNorm RxClass — the U.S. National Library of Medicine's standardized drug-classification service (Established Pharmacologic Class from the FDA, the ATC drug family from the WHO, and mechanism of action). Reference only, not medical advice.

🔬 Where this comes from

Core label, product, RxNorm, safety, and utilization data on this page come from the sources identified below. AI-written, editorial, and licensed sections are labeled separately.

📄
FDA-filed drug labels (SPL) Uses, dosing, warnings & side effects from SPL records retrieved through openFDA; the linked representative set can be verified on DailyMed. ✓ Linked label effective Sep 27, 2022
🏭
Forms, brands & labelersAggregated from ingredient-matched FDA National Drug Code Directory product records for Beclomethasone Nasal Spray.
📈
Real-world reportsThe FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS), served through openFDA.
🚨
Recalls & shortagesopenFDA drug-enforcement reports and the FDA drug-shortage database.
🧾 Clinical label set — FDA-filed SPL labels retained for Beclomethasone Nasal Spray after exact ingredient or ingredient-combination matching and applicable route/form matching
Clinical labels in scope
1
NDC products indexed
4
Distinct labelers/manufacturers represented
2
Linked representative label
Teva Respiratory, LLC
Linked label effective
Sep 27, 2022
Composite sections available
23
Linked SPL Set ID
4b8d8e84-b5d2-4e56-97ec-4f72971465c5
Linked SPL Document ID
e9df165d-79e9-4f86-8446-00995793a36b
Open the linked representative label on DailyMed ↗

How we combine label and product data

HelloPharmacist combines public FDA and NLM records; we don’t author the underlying clinical facts. We identified 1 FDA-filed SPL label set within the page’s selected clinical scope after exact ingredient or ingredient-combination matching and applicable route/form matching. The representative label is the starting point for the displayed reference monograph; the 12 largest stored in-scope SPL records, which may include that representative, are compared section by section, and the longest available version of each section is retained. Forms, routes, brands, labelers, product-listed strengths, and product-record counts are aggregated separately from ingredient-matched FDA NDC Directory records; package records listed above are associated with the linked SPL; and the normalized concept hierarchy comes from NLM RxNorm.

Where a section is identified as AI-written, its plain-language text is generated from bounded label evidence. New draft drug pages remain in the admin review queue before first publication. Teva Respiratory, LLC is the representative DailyMed label linked for verification and dates; it is not the sole source used for the page.

This is general education, not medical advice — always consult your doctor or pharmacist about your medications and any medical condition. For the exact wording of the linked representative label, view that label on DailyMed; some displayed composite sections may come from other in-scope SPL labels. Learn how we use AI and our data sources & update cadence.