Becotide and flixotide

can anyone tell me the difference between becotide and flixotide?

Thanx

Danni xx

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Hi Danni,

Becotide and Flixotide are both inhaled steroids. Becotide contains the steroid beclomethasone and Flixotide contains fluticasone. They both belong to a class of steroid called glucocorticoids, which are very similar to steroid hormones produced naturally in the body (and totally different from the anabolic steroids abused by some athletes). They both work in a similar way to interrupt the chemicals in the body that cause inflammation, and thus damp down inflammation in the area of the body that they are applied to. When taken via inhaler, they have a very local effect on the lungs, with only a tiny amount of absorption into the body in general, so they aren't associated with the sort of nasty side effects that can be seen with long term oral steroids. Taking regular inhaled steroids is the main way that we have of controlling asthma and treating the airway inflammation that is the root cause of the symptoms.

In terms of the differences between them, flucticasone is roughly twice as strong as beclomethasone, but practically all this means is that half the dose is given - it doesn't mean that it works twice as well or gives people good control twice as often. The two drugs have very similar results in trials and very similar side effects - there is no particularly convincing evidence that one works better than the other, overall. On an individual level, though, some people do find that they respond better to one than the other.

There is a little more information about the different inhaled steroids in the thread 'Pulmicort or Flixotide' in the General forum.

Hope this helps

Em H