{"id":62406,"date":"2024-01-04T10:00:51","date_gmt":"2024-01-04T15:00:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=62406"},"modified":"2024-10-25T10:18:32","modified_gmt":"2024-10-25T14:18:32","slug":"flovent-discontinued","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/news\/flovent-discontinued\/","title":{"rendered":"The popular inhaler Flovent has been discontinued"},"content":{"rendered":"

In 2023, <\/span>Flovent<\/span><\/a> manufacturer GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) announced their decision to discontinue Flovent-branded products starting January 1, 2024. The popular brand-name inhalers have been a go-to asthma treatment for many patients since the 1990s. Although the manufacturer says a generic is on the way, healthcare professionals have their own concerns. <\/span><\/p>\n

What is Flovent? <\/span><\/h2>\n

Flovent<\/span><\/a> contains the active ingredient fluticasone propionate, a corticosteroid used to control asthma symptoms. It helps prevent and reduce airway inflammation in patients with asthma. Flovent must be used every day; it is not a rescue inhaler and does not stop an acute attack. <\/span><\/p>\n

There were two widely used options for patients: Flovent HFA (fluticasone propionate inhalation aerosol) and Flovent Diskus (fluticasone propionate inhalation powder). Flovent HFA was a metered-dose inhaler, and Flovent Diskus was a <\/span>dry powder inhaler<\/span><\/a>. <\/span><\/p>\n

Both forms of Flovent came in three strengths, with the lower strengths being approved for children aged 4 to 11 years. <\/span><\/p>\n

What do I do if I’m prescribed Flovent?<\/span><\/h2>\n

As of January 1, patients will not be able to fill new or refill prescriptions of Flovent through their healthcare provider or pharmacy. The authorized generics were introduced in <\/span>May 2022 and October 2023<\/span><\/a> but will be used exclusively starting January 1, 2024. If you have been previously prescribed Flovent and rely on it to help with your asthma symptoms, contact your healthcare provider and ask if you can switch to an authorized generic for Flovent, or if they recommend another alternative. Make this call as soon as possible—in case there are any insurance authorizations required, which can take some time.<\/span><\/p>\n

Alternatives to Flovent<\/span><\/a> include <\/span>Pulmicort Flexhaler<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>Arnuity Ellipta<\/span><\/a>, and <\/span>Qvar Redihaler<\/span><\/a>. These options are similar in price but coverage may vary by insurance provider. <\/span><\/p>\n

There are two broad types of <\/span>asthma treatment options<\/span><\/a>: quick-relief medications and maintenance or control medications. Quick-relief medications help open up the airways of the lungs quickly and include inhalers such as:<\/span><\/p>\n