Abstract

Costello, J. F. and Clark, T. J. H. (1974).Thorax, 29, 571-573. Response of patients receiving high dose beclomethasone dipropionate. Beclomethasone dipropionate was inhaled by 16 patients with asthma in a dose of 1 mg daily for periods up to 24 weeks. No evidence of adrenal suppression was found in these patients as judged by basal cortisol levels. A further group of five patients with asthma inhaled 2 mg daily of beclomethasone dipropionate for periods up to 10 weeks and no evidence of adrenal suppression was found. A separate group of five patients was found to respond to increasing doses of beclomethasone dipropionate by increasing their forced expiratory volume in the first second. The results suggest that increased doses of beclomethasone dipropionate may provide additional benefit while continuing to avoid unwanted systemic side effects.