CLENIL Pressurised inhalation solution Ref.[6402] Active ingredients: Beclometasone

Patients should be properly instructed on the use of the inhaler to ensure that the drug reaches the target areas within the lungs. Patients should also be informed that Clenil Modulite should be used on a regular basis, even when they are asymptomatic.

Clenil Modulite does not provide relief of acute asthma symptoms, which require a short-acting inhaled bronchodilator. Patients should have relief medication available.

Severe asthma requires regular medical assessment, including lung-function testing, as there is a risk of severe attacks and even death. Patients should be instructed to seek medical attention if short-acting relief bronchodilator treatment becomes less effective, or more inhalations than usual are required as this may indicate deterioration of asthma control. If this occurs, patients should be assessed and the need for increased anti-inflammatory therapy considered (eg. higher doses of inhaled corticosteroid or a course of oral corticosteroid).

Severe exacerbations of asthma must be treated in the usual way, i.e. by increasing the dose of inhaled beclometasone dipropionate, giving a systemic steroid if necessary, and/or an appropriate antibiotic if there is an infection, together with β-agonist therapy.

Treatment with Clenil Modulite should not be stopped abruptly.

Systemic effects of inhaled corticosteroids may occur, particularly when prescribed at high doses for prolonged periods. These effects are much less likely to occur than with oral corticosteroids. Possible systemic effects include adrenal suppression, growth retardation in children and adolescents, decrease in bone mineral density, cataract and glaucoma and more rarely, a range of psychological or behavioural effects including psychomotor hyperactivity, sleep disorders, anxiety, depression or aggression (particularly in children). It is important that the dose of inhaled corticosteroid is titrated to the lowest dose at which effective control of asthma is maintained.

It is recommended that the height of children receiving prolonged treatment with inhaled corticosteroids is regularly monitored. If growth is slowed, therapy should be reviewed with the aim of reducing the dose of inhaled corticosteroids, if possible, to the lowest dose at which effective control of asthma is maintained. In addition, consideration should also be given to referring the patient to a paediatric respiratory specialist.

Prolonged treatment with high doses of inhaled corticosteroids may result in clinically significant adrenal suppression.

Additional systemic corticosteroid cover should be considered during periods of stress or elective surgery.

The transfer to Clenil Modulite of patients who have been treated with systemic steroids for long periods of time or at high doses needs special care, since recovery from possible adrenocortical suppression may take considerable time. Reduction of the dose of systemic steroid can be commenced approximately one week after initiating treatment with Clenil Modulite. The size of the reduction should correspond to the maintenance dose of systemic steroid. For patients receiving maintenance doses of 10 mg daily or less of prednisolone (or equivalent) reductions in dose of not more than 1 mg are suitable. For higher maintenance doses, larger reductions in dose may be appropriate. These oral dosage reductions should be introduced at not less than weekly intervals.

Adrenocortical function should be monitored regularly as the dose of systemic steroid is gradually reduced.

Some patients feel unwell during withdrawal of systemic steroids despite maintenance or even improvement of respiratory function. They should be encouraged to persevere with inhaled beclometasone dipropionate and to continue withdrawal of systemic steroid, unless there are objective signs of adrenal insufficiency.

Patients weaned off oral steroids whose adrenocortical function is impaired should carry a steroid warning card indicating that they may need supplementary systemic steroids during periods of stress, eg. worsening asthma attacks, chest infections, major intercurrent illness, surgery, trauma, etc.

Replacement of systemic steroid treatment with inhaled therapy sometimes unmasks allergies such as allergic rhinitis or eczema previously controlled by the systemic drug. These allergies should be symptomatically treated with antihistamine and/or topical preparations, including topical steroids.

As with all inhaled corticosteroids, special care is necessary in patients with active or quiescent pulmonary tuberculosis.

Visual disturbance

Visual disturbance may be reported with systemic and topical corticosteroid use. If a patient presents with symptoms such as blurred vision or other visual disturbances, the patient should be considered for referral to an ophthalmologist for evaluation of possible causes which may include cataract, glaucoma or rare diseases such as central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR) which have been reported after use of systemic and topical corticosteroids.

Patients should be advised that this product contains small amounts of ethanol (approximately 9 mg per actuation) and glycerol. At the normal doses, the amounts of ethanol and glycerol are negligible and do not pose a risk to patients (see section 4.5, Interaction with other medicinal products and other forms of interaction).

Clenil Modulite contains a small amount of ethanol. There is a theoretical potential for interaction in particularly sensitive patients taking disulfiram or metronidazole.

Beclometasone is less dependent on CYP3A metabolism than some other corticosteroids, and in general interactions are unlikely; however the possibility of systemic effects with concomitant use of strong CYP3A inhibitors (e.g. ritonavir, cobicistat) cannot be excluded, and therefore caution and appropriate monitoring is advised with the use of such agents.

There is no experience of the use of this product in pregnancy and lactation in humans. It should not be used in pregnancy or lactation unless the expected benefits to the mother are thought to outweigh any potential risks to the fetus or neonate.

There is inadequate evidence of safety of beclometasone dipropionate in human pregnancy. Administration of corticosteroids to pregnant animals can cause abnormalities of fetal development including cleft palate and intra-uterine growth retardation. There may therefore, be a risk of such effects in the human fetus. It should be noted, however, that the fetal changes in animals occur after relatively high systemic exposure. Beclometasone dipropionate is delivered directly to the lungs by the inhaled route and so avoids the high level of exposure that occurs when corticosteroids are given by systemic routes.

No specific studies examining the transfer of beclometasone dipropionate into the milk of lactating animals have been performed. It is reasonable to assume that beclometasone dipropionate is secreted in milk, but at the dosages used for direct inhalation there is low potential for significant levels in breast milk.

There is no experience with or evidence of safety of propellant HFA-134a in human pregnancy or lactation. However, studies of the effect of HFA-134a on reproductive function and embryofetal development in animals have revealed no clinically relevant adverse effects.

None reported.

Adverse events are listed below by system class and frequency. Frequencies are defined as: very common (≥1/10), common (≥1/100 and <1/10), uncommon (≥1/1,000 and <1/100), rare (≥1/10,000 and <1/1,000), very rare (≤1/10,000), unknown (frequency cannot be estimated from the available data).

Infections and Infestations

Very Common: Oral candidiasis (of the mouth and throat)

Immune System Disorders

Hypersensitivity reaction with the following manifestations:

Uncommon: Rash, urticaria, pruritus, erythema

Very Rare: Oedema of the eyes, face, lips and throat

Endocrine Disorders

Very Rare: Adrenal suppression*, growth retardation* (in children and adolescents), bone density decreased*

Psychiatric Disorders (see section 4.4 Special warnings and precautions for use)

Unknown: Psychomotor hyperactivity, sleep disorders, anxiety, depression, aggression, behavioural disorders (predominantly in children)

Nervous System Disorders

Unknown: Headache

Eye Disorders

Very Rare: Cataract*, glaucoma*

Unknown: Vision, blurred (see also section 4.4)

Respiratory, Thoracic and Mediastinal Disorders

Common: Hoarseness, throat irritation

Very Rare: Paradoxial bronchospasm, wheezing, dyspnoea, cough

Gastrointestinal Disorders

Unknown: Nausea

* Systemic reactions are a possible response to inhaled corticosteroids, especially when a high dose is prescribed for a prolonged time (see section 4.4 Special warnings and precautions for use).

As with other inhalation therapy, paradoxical bronchospasm may occur with an immediate increase in wheezing, shortness of breath and cough after dosing. This should be treated immediately with a fast-acting inhaled bronchodilator. Clenil Modulite should be discontinued immediately, the patient assessed and, if necessary, alternative therapy instituted.

Candidiasis of the mouth and throat occurs in some patients, the incidence increasing with doses greater than 400 micrograms beclometasone dipropionate per day. Patients with high blood levels of Candida precipitins, indicating a previous infection, are most likely to develop this complication. Patients may find it helpful to rinse their mouth thoroughly with water after inhalation. Symptomatic oral candidiasis can be treated with topical antifungal therapy while continuing with Clenil Modulite.

Hoarseness or throat irritation may occur in some patients. These patients should be advised to rinse the mouth out with water immediately after inhalation. Use of the Volumatic spacer device may be considered.

Reporting of suspected adverse reactions

Reporting suspected adverse reactions after authorisation of the medicinal product is important. It allows continued monitoring of the benefit/risk balance of the medicinal product. Healthcare professionals are asked to report any suspected adverse reactions via the Yellow Card Scheme at www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store.

Not applicable.