How do you say QVAR? (Pronunciation Series Episode 57)
·5 min
This episode is part of the Drug Pronunciation Series on the Pharmacist's Voice podcast, hosted by Ohio pharmacist Kim Newlove. It focuses solely on pronunciation, not pharmacology, as stated in the introduction. The episode begins by addressing a common confusion: whether to say QVAR or QVAR, with the answer being QVAR. The brand name QVAR is broken down into two syllables: Q (like the letter) and VAR (rhyming with far), with emphasis on Q. The full drug name is QVAR ready-haler, though Newlove mentions she often drops 'ready-haler' in conversation. Sources for written pronunciation include the FDA website, and drugs.com is suggested for audio verification. Next, the generic name beclomethazone is covered, with five syllables: be, clo, meth, uh, and zone, emphasizing meth. Creative memory aids are provided, such as comparing 'be' to the name Becky and 'zone' to auto parts. Newlove notes that quick pronunciation might sound like 'becla-methazone,' but the official version is beclomethazone. Sources for this include medlineplus.gov and Dr. Tony Guerra's YouTube channel. The episode is kept short, as part of a series aiming for brevity. Show notes on thepharmacistvoice.com contain written pronunciations, source links, and access to all 56 previous episodes. Listeners are encouraged to recommend drug names via voicemail or contact form on the website. The host promotes subscription to the podcast and YouTube channel, nearing 500 subscribers, and teases more content in 2025. The tone is educational and straightforward, with no filler content.
