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Key takeaways
Advair is a brand-name prescription drug that is FDA approved to treat asthma and COPD.
Advair comes in two forms, Advair Diskus and Advair HFA, which are both available as generic fluticasone-salmeterol.
Advair Diskus also has a branded generic called Wixela Inhub.
Advair is a brand-name prescription combination medication approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat asthma and COPD. 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 inhaler types: Advair HFA and Advair Diskus. Because these brand-name inhalers are expensive, many people wonder if Advair generic is available. The answer is yes, and the generic versions of Advair are usually cheaper than the brand-name versions. Here’s what you need to know about generic Advair.
Advair HFA vs. Diskus
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 FDA approved for the treatment of asthma only. In contrast, Advair Diskus is an inhalation powder that comes in a disc-shaped inhaler and is FDA 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 ages 12 and older, whereas Advair Diskus is approved for adults, adolescents, and children ages 4 to 11.
- Advair HFA is available in doses of 45-230 mcg fluticasone/21 mcg salmeterol per puff. Advair Diskus comes in doses of 100-500 mcg fluticasone/50 mcg salmeterol per puff.
- Advair HFA should be taken as two inhalations twice daily, or four puffs per day. Advair Diskus is dosed at one inhalation twice daily, for a total of two puffs per day.
- Advair Diskus contains milk protein, making it unsafe for individuals with a 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, which was approved by the FDA in January 2019. It is made by a pharmaceutical company, Mylan. Other manufacturers now also make generic versions of Advair Diskus. Like Advair Diskus, Wixela Inhub and non-branded generic versions contain a fixed-dose combination of fluticasone propionate and salmeterol powder for inhalation.
Advair HFA generic inhaler
The active ingredients in the generic form of Advair HFA are the same as those in its brand-name counterpart: a LABA called salmeterol and an ICS called fluticasone propionate. An authorized generic fluticasone-salmeterol HFA aerosol inhaler became available in March 2023.
How to save on generic Advair
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 $527 for one 115–21 mcg/actuation inhaler, which delivers 120 actuations (act) or inhalations. In comparison Advair Diskus costs about $510 for one 250–50 mcg/act inhaler, which delivers 60 inhalations, without insurance or discounts. Both inhalers provide enough doses for one month with typical use.
A SingleCare Advair Diskus coupon can reduce the cost to as little as $50 for one 250–50 mcg/act inhaler of Wixela Inhub or fluticasone-salmeterol in diskus form. As for generic Advair HFA, it is fairly new and still relatively expensive compared to fluticasone-salmeterol diskus form, but you could pay $260 instead of $527 per 1, 12 gm of 115–21 mcg/act (120 inhalations) inhaler with a SingleCare Advair HFA coupon.
Advair generic price comparison |
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|---|---|---|
| Drug name | Brand-name price | Generic price with SingleCare |
| Advair HFA | $527 for 1, 12 gm of 115–21 mcg/act (120 inhalations) inhaler | $260 for 1, 12 gm of 115–21 mcg/act (120 inhalations) inhaler |
| Advair Diskus | $510 for 1, 250–50 mcg/act (60 inhalations) inhaler | $50 per 1,250–50 mcg/act (60 inhalations) inhaler of generic fluticasone-salmeterol or Wixela Inhub |
Prices fluctuate and vary by pharmacy and location. These are the most recent prices at the time of publication.
How to switch from Advair to a generic version
In many cases, healthcare professionals 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 is allergic to one of the generic drug’s inactive ingredients, such as a binder or dye.
Bottom line
Ultimately, it’s important to consult with a healthcare professional if you are interested in switching from brand-name Advair to one of its generic equivalents. Though generic drugs are considered just as safe and effective as brand-name drugs, there may be small differences in inactive ingredients or the mechanism of 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.
- Highlights of prescribing information, Advair HFA, Food and Drug Administration (2021)
- Highlights of prescribing information, Advair Diskus, Food and Drug Administration (2019)
- Wixela Inhub: A generic equivalent treatment option for patients with asthma or COPD, Springer Pulmonary Therapy (2020)
- Mylan announces FDA approval of Wixela™ Inhub™ (fluticasone propionate and salmeterol inhalation powder, USP), first generic of ADVAIR DISKUS® (fluticasone propionate and salmeterol inhalation powder), Mylan (2019)
- Fluticasone propionate and salmeterol HFA- fluticasone propionate and salmeterol xinafoate aerosol, metered, Food and Drug Administration (2024)