Clenil Modulite Inhaler UK: Dosage, How It Works and Who It Is For
Clenil Modulite (beclometasone) explained: the strengths (including the 50 and 250mcg discontinuation), how long it takes to work, how long an inhaler lasts, technique, side effects, and how it compares with Qvar and Flixotide.
Part of our asthma guide: symptoms, triggers and treatment.
Asthma attack? Get help now. Call 999 if your reliever isn’t helping, you’re too breathless to speak, eat or sleep, your breathing is getting faster, or your lips or fingertips are turning blue or grey. While you wait, sit up straight and take 1 puff of your blue reliever every 30 to 60 seconds, up to 10 puffs, through a spacer if you have one. If the ambulance hasn’t arrived after 10 minutes, repeat. Don’t complete an online consultation in an emergency.
Quick answer: Clenil Modulite is a brown preventer inhaler containing beclometasone, an inhaled steroid. The 100 and 200 microgram strengths remain available; the 50 and 250 microgram strengths are being discontinued at the end of November 2026. Take it every day, even when you feel well, usually twice a day. It starts to help within a week or two, with the full effect over a few weeks. Each inhaler holds 200 puffs. Rinse your mouth after each dose, and use a spacer. Clenil and Qvar aren’t interchangeable, so it’s prescribed by brand.
Already prescribed Clenil? See our Clenil Modulite or all our asthma inhalers online.
Order Your Usual Preventer Inhaler
Access Doctor is a GPhC-registered pharmacy (#9011198). If you’re an adult with diagnosed asthma or COPD, a pharmacist independent prescriber reviews your online consultation and supplies your usual inhaler if it’s safe, and we let your GP know. Approved before 3pm, Monday to Friday? Dispatched the same day, by Royal Mail Tracked 48, Tracked 24 or Special Delivery guaranteed by 1pm next working day: you choose. Delivery is free on orders over £40.
Start Asthma Consultation →Who our online service is for. Access Doctor supplies asthma and COPD inhalers to adults aged 18 and over who already have a diagnosis, for the same inhaler, strength and dose they’re prescribed now, and we share the consultation with your GP. We can’t diagnose asthma or start or change treatment online. Children’s inhalers are managed by their GP or asthma nurse.
What Is Clenil Modulite?
Clenil Modulite is a brown pressurised aerosol (metered-dose) inhaler containing beclometasone dipropionate, an inhaled corticosteroid. It’s made by Chiesi and is one of the most widely used preventer inhalers in the UK. It’s the brown inhaler many people know by colour. It has come in four strengths: 50, 100, 200 and 250 micrograms per puff.
Strength changes: Clenil Modulite 50 and 250 microgram inhalers are being discontinued in the UK at the end of November 2026. The 100 and 200 microgram inhalers remain available. If you use Clenil 50 or 250, talk to your GP or asthma nurse before you run out. The supply notice names Soprobec 50 and 250 micrograms, another standard-particle beclometasone inhaler, as alternatives, along with Clenil 100. Don’t change inhaler or dose without your prescriber.
Unlike a blue reliever such as Ventolin, Clenil Modulite doesn’t open the airways straight away. It’s a preventer: it gradually calms the long-term inflammation in the airway lining that makes the airways overreact to triggers. Our preventer inhaler guide explains preventers in general.
Important: take Clenil Modulite every day, even when you feel well. Feeling well is a sign it’s working, not a reason to stop. Stopping lets the inflammation build up again and raises your risk of an attack.
How Does Beclometasone Work?
Beclometasone is a steroid that works inside the airways. Taken every day, it:
- reduces the chemical signals that drive inflammation in the airway lining
- lowers the number of eosinophils, inflammatory cells involved in much asthma
- reduces swelling and excess mucus
- makes the airways less likely to overreact to triggers
The result is fewer symptoms, less need for a reliever and fewer asthma attacks. The benefit builds up with daily use, which is why it must be taken regularly.
Clenil Modulite Strengths and Dosing
The Clenil product information gives a usual starting dose for adults of 200 micrograms twice a day, adjusted by your prescriber to the lowest dose that controls your asthma. UK guidance (NICE, BTS and SIGN) describes daily doses of standard beclometasone such as Clenil as:
| Dose level (adults and over-12s) | Total a day | Example with Clenil Modulite |
|---|---|---|
| Low | 200 to 500 micrograms | 100mcg: 1 or 2 puffs twice a day; or 200mcg: 1 puff twice a day |
| Moderate | 600 to 800 micrograms | 200mcg: 2 puffs twice a day |
| High | 1,000 to 2,000 micrograms | Higher doses, such as 200mcg: 3 or more puffs twice a day, always with a spacer |
The 50 and 250 microgram strengths are ending in November 2026 (see above). Children’s treatment is managed by their GP or asthma nurse. Your prescriber sets your strength and dose; never change it without advice. Under current UK guidance, many adults are now started on a combination inhaler used as AIR or MART rather than a steroid-only preventer; if your asthma is well controlled on Clenil, you don’t have to switch. See our asthma inhalers guide.
Preventer · Rx
Clenil Modulite
Beclometasone aerosol, the brown preventer. 100 and 200mcg (50 and 250mcg ending November 2026).
View product →Device
AeroChamber Plus adult spacer
Helps more of each puff reach your lungs and less stay in your mouth. £9.99.
View product →How to Use Clenil Modulite Correctly
1
Shake the inhaler
Take the cap off and shake it well. If it’s new or hasn’t been used for a while, test-spray it into the air as the leaflet describes.
2
Breathe out gently
Breathe out away from the inhaler.
3
Breathe in slowly and press, or use a spacer
Seal your lips around the mouthpiece, start breathing in slowly, and press the canister once as you do; keep breathing in for 3 to 5 seconds. With a spacer, press once into the spacer, then breathe in slowly, or take 4 or 5 normal breaths through it.
4
Hold your breath
Hold for up to 10 seconds, or as long as is comfortable. For a second puff, wait about 30 seconds and shake again.
5
Rinse your mouth
After every dose, rinse your mouth with water, or brush your teeth, and spit it out. This lowers the risk of thrush and a hoarse voice.
A spacer gets more medicine into your lungs and less in your mouth. The Clenil product information says a Volumatic spacer must be used at total doses of 1,000 micrograms a day or more. Our guide to how to use an asthma inhaler shows each step.
When Will Clenil Modulite Start Working?
Most people start to notice a difference within a week or two of taking Clenil every day, with fewer symptoms and less need for their reliever. The full effect builds over a few weeks. Keep using your reliever for symptoms in the meantime.
If you’re still needing your reliever as often after a few weeks of taking Clenil every day with good technique, see your GP or asthma nurse. Your technique, dose or type of inhaler may need changing.
How Long Does a Clenil Modulite Inhaler Last?
Every strength of Clenil Modulite holds 200 puffs. How long that lasts depends on your dose:
| Your dose | Puffs a day | One inhaler lasts about |
|---|---|---|
| 1 puff twice a day | 2 | 100 days |
| 2 puffs twice a day | 4 | 50 days |
Clenil has no dose counter, so note the date you start each inhaler and order the next in good time.
Side Effects of Clenil Modulite
Common
- Oral thrush: white patches or soreness in the mouth. Rinsing after every dose and using a spacer make it much less likely. If you get it, see our oral thrush treatment page or ask a pharmacist.
- Hoarse voice or sore throat: usually improves with rinsing, a spacer and better technique.
With high doses over a long time
At low and moderate doses, effects on the rest of the body are rarely significant for adults. At high doses over a long time, effects can include adrenal suppression, thinner bones, and cataracts or glaucoma. That’s why your prescriber aims for the lowest dose that works and reduces it when your asthma has been well controlled. If you use a high dose, you may need to carry a steroid emergency card; ask your GP or pharmacist.
Get help straight away if your wheeze or breathlessness gets suddenly worse straight after a dose (use your reliever and call 999 or NHS 111), or you get swelling of the face, lips or throat (call 999). Tell your GP about blurred vision or other changes in your eyesight. Don’t stop Clenil suddenly without advice.
Clenil Modulite vs Qvar vs Flixotide
| Clenil Modulite (and Soprobec) | Qvar (and Kelhale) | Flixotide | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steroid | Beclometasone (standard particles) | Beclometasone (extra-fine particles) | Fluticasone propionate |
| Strength per microgram | Standard | About twice as strong as Clenil | About twice as strong as standard beclometasone |
| Low daily dose (UK guidance) | 200 to 500mcg | 100 to 200mcg | 100 to 250mcg |
| Device | Aerosol (brown), with a spacer | Autohaler, Easi-Breathe or aerosol | Aerosol (orange) or Accuhaler |
| Interchangeable? | Clenil and Soprobec are both standard-particle beclometasone, used at the same microgram doses. Qvar and Kelhale are extra-fine and about twice as strong, so they can’t be swapped for Clenil microgram for microgram. All beclometasone inhalers are still prescribed by brand, and any switch should be agreed with your GP or asthma nurse | ||
All three work well at the right dose. The choice depends on your symptoms, the device you can use best, and your prescriber’s judgement.
What If I Miss a Dose?
Take it as soon as you remember, unless your next dose is nearly due; then skip the missed one and carry on as normal. Never take a double dose to make up. Linking your doses to brushing your teeth, or setting two phone reminders, helps. Missing an occasional dose won’t cause immediate harm, but missing doses regularly lets inflammation build up.
Getting Clenil Modulite Online
Can you buy Clenil Modulite over the counter? No. It’s a prescription-only medicine in the UK. Access Doctor is a GPhC-registered pharmacy (registration number 9011198). If you’re an adult with diagnosed asthma and already use Clenil Modulite, you can order the same strength and dose after an online consultation. A pharmacist independent prescriber checks it’s safe, and we share the consultation with your GP. Because standard and extra-fine beclometasone aren’t interchangeable, we can’t switch you between Clenil and Qvar online. Clenil Modulite 50 and 250 microgram inhalers are being discontinued in the UK at the end of November 2026; if you use one of those, speak to your GP about what to use next. Approved before 3pm, Monday to Friday? Dispatched the same day, by Royal Mail Tracked 48, Tracked 24 or Special Delivery guaranteed by 1pm next working day: you choose. Delivery is free on orders over £40.
See our guide to ordering an asthma inhaler online for how the service works.
Safety, your GP and free NHS options
Clenil Modulite and other asthma inhalers are prescription-only medicines in the UK. Before anything is supplied, a GPhC-registered pharmacist independent prescriber reviews your consultation, including the other medicines you take; some, such as beta-blockers, can make asthma worse.
- Relievers on their own: since 2024, UK guidance (NICE, BTS and SIGN) says no one with asthma should be treated with a reliever alone, and in April 2025 the MHRA told prescribers not to prescribe one without an inhaled steroid to people of any age with asthma. If you don’t use a preventer, we can supply a reliever once and will ask you to see your GP or asthma nurse.
- How many: up to 2 reliever inhalers per order. If you’ve needed 3 or more in the last 12 months, we’ll ask you to have an asthma review first; needing that many is linked to a higher risk of severe attacks.
- Read the leaflet in the pack, and ask a pharmacist or asthma nurse to check your technique.
- Report side effects to a pharmacist or doctor. You can also report them to the MHRA through the Yellow Card scheme.
We share your consultation with your GP because asthma needs ongoing care. Access Doctor is a private service, and there are free NHS options:
- Your GP practice: asthma reviews (at least once a year) and repeat prescriptions; many practices let you order repeats through the NHS App.
- Prescription charges: NHS prescriptions are free in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. In England a charge applies unless you’re exempt, and a prepayment certificate can save money if you need several items.
- Urgent advice: NHS 111 (NHS 24 on 111 in Scotland), or 999 in an emergency.
Need Your Usual Inhaler?
Access Doctor is a GPhC-registered pharmacy (#9011198). If you’re an adult with diagnosed asthma or COPD, a pharmacist independent prescriber reviews your online consultation and supplies your usual inhaler if it’s safe, and we let your GP know. Approved before 3pm, Monday to Friday? Dispatched the same day, by Royal Mail Tracked 48, Tracked 24 or Special Delivery guaranteed by 1pm next working day: you choose. Delivery is free on orders over £40.
Start Asthma Consultation →Frequently Asked Questions
What is Clenil Modulite used for?
Clenil Modulite is a brown preventer inhaler for asthma. It contains beclometasone dipropionate, an inhaled steroid that reduces inflammation in the airways when taken every day, so you get fewer symptoms and fewer attacks. It doesn’t relieve sudden symptoms, so you also need a reliever. It must be taken every day, even when you feel well. Our preventer inhaler guide explains how preventers work.
How long does Clenil Modulite take to work?
Clenil Modulite usually starts to help within a week or two of taking it every day, and the full effect builds over a few weeks. It won’t ease symptoms straight away, so keep using your reliever when you need it. Don’t stop because you feel better; feeling better is a sign it’s working. If your symptoms haven’t improved after a few weeks with good technique, see your GP or asthma nurse.
What is the difference between Clenil Modulite and QVAR?
Both contain beclometasone, but Qvar has extra-fine particles that reach the smaller airways, which makes it about twice as strong as Clenil Modulite microgram for microgram. Because of that, the two aren’t interchangeable and are prescribed by brand: switching needs a new dose worked out by your GP or asthma nurse. Clenil is a standard aerosol used with a spacer; Qvar comes as an Autohaler, Easi-Breathe or aerosol.
Should I rinse my mouth after using Clenil Modulite?
Yes. Rinse your mouth with water, or brush your teeth, and spit it out after each dose. This lowers the risk of oral thrush and a hoarse voice, the two most common side effects of steroid inhalers. Using a spacer also reduces how much medicine lands in your mouth and throat.
Can I stop taking Clenil Modulite if my asthma improves?
Not without talking to your GP or asthma nurse first. Feeling better is a sign it’s working; stopping lets the inflammation in your airways build up again over the following weeks and raises your risk of an attack. If your asthma has been well controlled for at least 3 months, ask at your review whether your dose can be reduced, one step at a time.
Is Clenil Modulite a steroid inhaler?
Yes. Beclometasone is an inhaled corticosteroid (steroid). Because it’s breathed straight into the airways, only a small amount reaches the rest of the body, much less than with steroid tablets. At the doses most adults need, long-term use is considered safe; at high doses over many years, effects on the adrenal glands, bones and eyes are possible, which is why your prescriber aims for the lowest dose that works.
How long does a Clenil Modulite inhaler last?
Each Clenil Modulite inhaler holds 200 puffs. How long it lasts depends on your dose: at 2 puffs twice a day (4 puffs a day) it lasts about 50 days, and at 1 puff twice a day about 100 days. It has no dose counter, so keep a note of when you started it and order the next one in good time. Always finish a course as prescribed; don’t stretch it out by skipping doses.
Can I buy Clenil Modulite at Boots or another pharmacy?
Only with a prescription. Clenil Modulite is a prescription-only medicine in the UK, so a high-street or online pharmacy can only supply it after a prescriber has checked it’s right for you. Access Doctor (GPhC reg. no. 9011198) can supply your usual Clenil Modulite, at the same strength and dose, to adults with diagnosed asthma after an online consultation, and we share it with your GP.
Do I need a spacer with Clenil Modulite?
A spacer is recommended for most people and lowers the risk of thrush. The Clenil product information says a Volumatic spacer must be used if your total dose is 1,000 micrograms a day or more. Ask your GP for one, or see the AeroChamber Plus. Our guide to how to use an asthma inhaler shows the spacer technique.
For symptoms, triggers and how asthma is diagnosed, see our asthma guide.
References
- Electronic Medicines Compendium. Clenil Modulite: Summary of Product Characteristics. medicines.org.uk
- Community Pharmacy England. Medicine Supply Notification: beclometasone dipropionate (Clenil Modulite) 50 micrograms/dose and 250 micrograms/dose inhalers (MSN/2026/038), August 2026. cpe.org.uk
- NICE, BTS and SIGN. Asthma: inhaled corticosteroid doses for people aged 12 and over (NG245 dose tables), November 2025. sign.ac.uk
- NICE, BTS and SIGN. Asthma: diagnosis, monitoring and chronic asthma management (NG245), November 2024. nice.org.uk
- MHRA Drug Safety Update. Short-acting beta-2 agonists (SABA): reminder of the risks from overuse in asthma and changes in the SABA prescribing guidelines, April 2025. gov.uk
- NHS. Asthma: treatment. nhs.uk
Medical disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for diagnosis and treatment. In a medical emergency, call 999.