Advair generic: Options for asthma and COPD

In this article:

• Generic vs. brand-name Advair
• Is a generic Advair available?
• Cost
• Coverage
• How to get it covered
• Alternatives
• How to switch
• Bottom line

In this article

• Generic vs. brand-name Advair
• Is a generic Advair available?
• Cost
• Coverage
• How to get it covered
• Alternatives
• How to switch
• Bottom line

Advair is a brand-name prescription combination medication approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It contains an inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) and long-acting beta agonist (LABA) bronchodilator to help reduce inflammation and open airways. Advair is available in two different dosage forms: Advair HFA, approved for asthma, and Advair Diskus, approved for asthma and COPD. For those looking to save on costs, generics are available for both. Advair Diskus has been available as a generic since 2019 with Wixela Inhub, and a generic version of Advair HFA became available by March 2023.

Advair generic availability
Generic name	Fluticasone-Salmeterol
FDA approval date of the generic version	January 2019
Is there a generic available for sale in the U.S.?	Yes

What are the differences between generic vs. brand-name Advair?

Advair HFA and Advair Diskus contain the same active ingredients, but their medication delivery systems, FDA-approved indications, dosages, and age restrictions differ.

Advair HFA comes in a traditional canister-shaped inhaler and is approved for the treatment of asthma only. In contrast, Advair Diskus is an inhalation powder that comes in a disc-shaped inhaler and is approved for the treatment of asthma and COPD. 

Here are some other key differences between Advair HFA and Diskus:

• Advair HFA is approved for adults and adolescents 12 and older, whereas Advair Diskus is approved for adults, adolescents, and children aged 4 to 11.
• Advair HFA is available in strengths providing 45 to 230 mcg of fluticasone with 21 mcg of salmeterol per puff. Advair Diskus comes in strengths of 100 to 500 mcg of fluticasone with 50 mcg of salmeterol per puff. 
• Advair HFA is taken as two inhalations twice daily, or a total of four puffs per day. Advair Diskus is dosed as one inhalation twice daily, for a total of two puffs per day.
• Advair Diskus contains milk protein, which can make it unsafe for individuals with a severe milk protein allergy.

Is a generic Advair available?

Yes, Advair is available in generic form, with the active ingredients fluticasone and salmeterol. There is also a branded generic for Advair Diskus. 

Advair Diskus generic inhaler

Advair Diskus is available as generic fluticasone-salmeterol in a diskus form. There’s also a branded generic version of Advair Diskus, sold under the brand name Wixela Inhub, approved by the FDA in January 2019 and manufactured by Mylan. Since then, other manufacturers have produced generic versions of Advair Diskus. 

Advair HFA generic inhaler

The active ingredients in the generic form of Advair HFA are the same as those in its brand-name counterpart. An authorized generic fluticasone-salmeterol HFA aerosol inhaler became available in March 2023. 

How much does generic Advair cost?

Advair HFA and Advair Diskus have similar average retail prices. Prices vary by pharmacy and location, but the average cost of Advair HFA without insurance is about $510 for one 115–21 mcg/actuation inhaler, which delivers 120 actuations (act) or inhalations. In comparison, Advair Diskus costs about $502 without insurance for one 250–50 mcg/act inhaler, which delivers 60 inhalations. Both inhalers provide enough doses for one month with typical use. 

A SingleCare Advair Diskus coupon may help reduce the cost to around $58 for one 250–50 mcg/act inhaler of Wixela Inhub or fluticasone-salmeterol in diskus form. As for generic Advair HFA, you could pay $289 instead of $510 per 1, 12 gm of 115–21 mcg/act inhaler with a SingleCare Advair HFA coupon. 

Brand vs. generic Advair prices
Cost details	Brand-name Adviar HFA	Brand-name Advair Diskus	Fluticasone salmeterol generic
Average cost without insurance	$511 for 1, 12gm of 115-21mcg/act (120 inhalations) inhaler of Advair HFA	$510 for 1, 115–21 mcg/act inhaler of Advair Diskus	$503 per 1, 250–50 mcg/act inhaler of generic Advair Diskus at CVS Pharmacy
SingleCare’s lowest price	$314 for 1, 12gm of 115-21mcg/act (120 inhalations) inhaler of Advair HFA	$502 for 1, 250–50 mcg/act inhaler of Advair Diskus	$58 per 1, 250–50 mcg/act inhaler of generic Advair Diskus at CVS Pharmacy
Free coupons	Advair HFA coupons	Advair Diskus coupons	Fluticasone salmeterol coupons

Prescription drug prices often change. These are the most accurate medication prices at the time of publishing in ZIP code 23666 as of April 15, 2026. The listed price, without insurance, refers to the price of brand-name drugs (unless otherwise specified). The listed SingleCare price references the price of generic drugs if available. 

Is Advair covered by insurance?

Advair may be covered by commercial insurance and Medicare plans. However, insurance coverage will vary by plan. Although many insurance plans may cover Advair HFA and Advair Diskus, they may be found on higher tiers of preferred drug lists or formularies. In other words, they may come with higher out-of-pocket costs as brand-name drugs.

Insurance plans may prefer to cover the generic versions, meaning you’ll often pay a lower copay for the generic medication versus the brand-name one. While Medicare Part D generally covers fluticasone-salmeterol, out-of-pocket costs can vary. Medicaid coverage will depend on the state.

How do you get Advair covered by insurance?

If Advair is not covered by insurance, your doctor or healthcare provider may need to submit a prior authorization request. This process involves sending the insurance company documentation that explains why Advair is medically necessary. 

If insurance denies coverage, you and your healthcare provider can file an appeal. In some cases, you may have to try an alternative that’s covered. Opting for the generic version could increase the chances of coverage. 

Generic alternatives to Advair

A generic version of Advair is available, but some people may prefer an alternative due to cost, side effects, or other factors. Alternatives to Advair include other inhalers that may contain different ingredients or combinations of ingredients. 

Alternatives to Advair Diskus that may come in generic forms include:

ICS/LABA combination inhalers:

• Wixela Inhub (fluticasone-salmeterol)
• Breyna (budesonide-formoterol)
• AirDuo RespiClick (fluticasone-salmeterol)
  

ICS inhalers:

• Pulmicort (budesonide)
• Flovent (fluticasone)

These inhalers are potential options available as generics. They’re generally used as maintenance medications that need to be used daily to control symptoms. 

It’s important to consult a healthcare provider for alternatives, since the best option will depend on the reason for switching. For example, if your asthma symptoms are well-controlled, you may be able to switch to an ICS-only inhaler, such as fluticasone. 

In any case, a rescue inhaler like Ventolin HFA (albuterol) is often needed on hand for sudden breathing problems or an asthma attack.

How to switch from Advair to a generic version

Healthcare professionals often prescribe generic Advair right off the bat. But if you’re currently using a brand-name Advair inhaler, the first step to switching is talking to your healthcare provider. 

“When my patients have an opportunity to use a generic form of a costly medication, I am enthusiastically supportive of that change in most cases,” says Chrissie Ott, MD, a double board-certified internist and pediatrician in Portland, Oregon. “Generic forms of medication are required to meet the same standards as the prescription medication, so in most cases, there is very little difference.” That said, Dr. Ott recommends monitoring symptoms closely after switching to the generic Advair, just in case you notice a difference in how your body responds.

There are two cases in which your provider might prescribe brand-name Advair over its generic equivalent. The first is when a patient simply prefers the brand-name drug, according to Jimmy Johannes, MD, pulmonologist and critical care medicine specialist at MemorialCare Long Beach Medical Center in Long Beach, California. “Often this is because they perceive superior response or fewer side effects with the brand-name product,” Dr. Johannes explains. The second case, according to Dr. Ott, is when a patient has an allergic reaction to one of the generic drug’s inactive ingredients, such as a binder or dye.

Bottom line

Ultimately, it’s important to consult a healthcare professional if you are interested in switching from brand-name Advair to a generic equivalent. Though generic drugs are considered just as safe and effective as brand-name drugs, there may be small differences in inactive ingredients or in the delivery system. Direct any questions about Advair versus generic Advair to your healthcare provider or a pharmacist familiar with your medical history and other medications.