TABLE 3.

Inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) dosing categories in paediatrics

Corticosteroid	Trade name	Daily inhaled corticosteroid dose, μg
		(6 to 11 years of age)			(12 years of age and over)
		Low	Medium	High	Low	Medium	High
Beclomethasone dipropionate HFA	QVAR†	≤200	201–400	>400	≤250	251–500	>500
Budesonide*	Pulmicort Turbuhaler‡	≤400	401–800	>800	≤400	401–800	>800
Ciclesonide*	Alvesco§	≤200	201–400	>400	≤200	201–400	>400
Fluticasone	Flovent MDI and spacer; Flovent Diskus¶	≤200	201–500	>500	≤250	251–500	>500

Dose equivalencies are approximate and are based on efficacy data. Categories are somewhat arbitrary but are based on manufacturers’ recommendations.

^*Licensed for once daily dosing in Canada;

^†Graceway Pharmaceuticals, Canada;

^‡AstraZeneca Inc, Canada;

^§Nycomed Canada Inc, Canada;

^¶GlaxoSmithKline Inc, Canada. HFA Hydrofluoroalkane; μg micrograms; MDI Metered-dose inhaler. ICS are currently approved for the following ages: Flovent 12 months and over, QVAR 5 years and over, Alvesco 6 years and over, Pulmicort (nebules) 3 months and over (products insert). This information was originally published in Can Respir J 2010 17(1): 15–24