An inhaled steroid "preventer"
Beclometasone
An inhaled steroid "preventer" that calms airway inflammation in asthma (and some COPD) — taken regularly, even when you feel well, to stop symptoms developing.
What is Beclometasone?
Beclometasone is an inhaled corticosteroid, used as a 'preventer' inhaler. It treats the underlying inflammation in the airways in asthma to reduce flare-ups over time, rather than giving quick relief.
Education and reference only. This is a plain-language guide to Beclometasone — it deliberately contains no doses. Doses depend on the person, the brand and the reason for treatment, and belong with your prescriber. Always check the BNF, the product labelling (SmPC) and follow medical advice.
What it is
Beclometasone is an inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) — a "preventer" inhaler. It treats the underlying inflammation in the airways in asthma, and is used in some people with COPD, usually combined with other inhalers. It is taken regularly, day in and day out, to keep the airways calm and prevent symptoms and attacks. It is not a reliever, so it does not give quick relief during an attack — that is the job of a separate fast-acting inhaler.
How it works
Beclometasone delivers a small amount of steroid straight to the lining of the airways, where it reduces the swelling, mucus and sensitivity that drive asthma. Because it dampens the inflammation itself, it gradually makes the airways less twitchy and less likely to flare — but it works by building up an effect over days and weeks, which is why it must be taken regularly rather than only when you feel wheezy. Delivering it directly to the lungs keeps the amount of steroid tiny compared with steroid tablets, so body-wide effects are far less of a concern.
Company & origin
Originated / developed by: Glaxo / Allen & Hanburys (now GSK).
Beclometasone dipropionate was developed by the Glaxo group in the UK (first described in a 1960s patent) and launched in 1972 by Allen & Hanburys as the inhaler Becotide, making it the first inhaled corticosteroid available for asthma. The company is now part of GSK.
What it treats
Conditions Beclometasone is used for
Practical use
How to take Beclometasone
General, dose-free guidance — always follow your prescriber's and the leaflet's specific instructions.
- Use it regularly every day as prescribed, even when you feel completely well, because it works by preventing inflammation building up.
- It will not relieve a sudden attack; keep your separate reliever inhaler for that.
- Rinse your mouth and spit out after using it to reduce the risk of oral thrush and a hoarse voice.
- A spacer can improve how much medicine reaches the lungs and further lowers the chance of mouth side effects.
- Do not stop it suddenly when symptoms improve; keep taking it and discuss any changes with your GP or asthma nurse.
- If you miss a dose, take it when you remember and then carry on as normal without doubling up.
Weighing it up
Advantages & disadvantages of Beclometasone
Advantages
- Tackles the underlying airway inflammation, the root problem in asthma.
- Regular use reduces the frequency and severity of flare-ups.
- Inhaled delivery means most of the medicine acts locally in the lungs.
- Good asthma control can reduce reliance on reliever inhalers and oral steroids.
Disadvantages
- Can cause oral thrush and a hoarse voice if the mouth is not rinsed after use.
- Needs to be taken consistently to work, which some people find easy to forget when they feel well.
- Does not give immediate relief during an attack.
- Very high or long-term inhaled steroid use can carry wider side effects and, in children, may slightly affect growth.
Practical use
Good to know
The biggest mistake people make is stopping when they feel well — but it is precisely the regular use that keeps you well, so it should be taken every day as prescribed even with no symptoms. Rinsing your mouth and spitting out after each dose helps prevent oral thrush and a hoarse voice, the two most common local side effects. Crucially, beclometasone brands are not interchangeable puff-for-puff: Qvar produces a finer, "extra-fine" spray and reaches the lungs differently from Clenil Modulite, so they are prescribed and dispensed by brand name — never assume one brand swaps directly for another.
Who should not take it / use with caution
- There are very few absolute reasons not to use it; care is taken in people with an active chest infection such as untreated tuberculosis.
- It must not be relied on for sudden symptoms — a separate reliever inhaler is needed for that.
- Used thoughtfully (and with good technique and mouth-rinsing) in children, where growth is monitored, and at the lowest effective amount overall.
Monitoring
- Asthma control, symptoms and attack frequency
- Inhaler technique and mouth care
- Growth in children, and review of the overall steroid burden over time
Side effects
- Oral thrush (a sore, white-coated mouth) and a hoarse voice or sore throat — reduced by rinsing the mouth after use and by using a spacer.
- Cough or throat irritation just after inhaling.
- With higher long-term use, wider steroid effects become more relevant (such as on bone health or, in children, growth) — which is why the lowest effective amount is used.
Key interactions
- Few important interactions at inhaled level, but certain medicines (for example some antifungals and some HIV medicines) can raise steroid levels in the body.
- It does not replace, and should not be confused with, your reliever inhaler.
- Tell your prescriber about other steroids you take (tablets, creams, nasal sprays) so the total is considered.
Available as: Pressurised metered-dose inhalers, including a standard form (such as Clenil Modulite) and an extra-fine form (such as Qvar); spacers help. Because the brands differ, beclometasone is prescribed by brand.
Answers
Beclometasone: frequently asked questions
Why do I have to use my preventer even when I feel fine?
Beclometasone works by calming airway inflammation gradually, and that protection only lasts while you keep taking it. Feeling well usually means it is working — not that you can stop. Using it every day as prescribed is what prevents symptoms and attacks; stopping lets the inflammation build back up.
Why should I rinse my mouth after using it?
A little of the steroid can settle in the mouth and throat, which can cause oral thrush (a sore, white-coated mouth) or a hoarse voice. Rinsing with water and spitting out after each dose — and using a spacer — washes that residue away and makes these side effects much less likely.
My pharmacy gave me a different brand — does it matter?
For beclometasone, yes. Qvar is an "extra-fine" inhaler that reaches the lungs differently from Clenil Modulite, so they are not equivalent puff-for-puff and are prescribed by brand name. If you are given a different brand from usual, check with the pharmacist before using it, as the right amount can differ.
Is it safe to take an inhaled steroid every day?
For most people, yes. The amount delivered to the lungs is tiny compared with steroid tablets, so body-wide effects are far less of a concern, and your team uses the lowest amount that keeps your asthma controlled. Local effects (thrush, hoarseness) are managed with mouth-rinsing and good technique.
What is the difference between beclometasone, Clenil Modulite and Qvar?
Beclometasone is the generic (active-ingredient) name, while Clenil Modulite and Qvar are brand names. They contain the same active ingredient but deliver it differently, so they are not interchangeable puff-for-puff — which is why beclometasone is prescribed and dispensed by brand.
The wider class
About Inhaled corticosteroids
Beclometasone belongs to the inhaled corticosteroids class. For how the class as a whole works, its shared safety principles and monitoring, see the full guide.
Browse by body system
Authoritative sources
- BNF: Beclometasone dipropionate.
- electronic Medicines Compendium (SmPC): Clenil Modulite; Qvar.
- NICE CKS: Beclometasone inhaler.
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