Are there any alternatives for Advair?

Key takeaways

• If Advair isn’t working for you, several prescription alternatives like Wixela Inhub, Breo Ellipta, and Symbicort may be more suitable, depending on whether you have asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD).
• Wixela Inhub is a generic and potentially cheaper alternative to Advair Diskus, but remember that prices for all alternatives can vary based on insurance coverage and pharmacy.
• While natural remedies like yoga, acupuncture, and certain supplements may help manage symptoms, they should not replace traditional medications without consulting your doctor.

Overview

Advair (fluticasone propionate/salmeterol) is used to treat asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD). 

Two main types of Advair are available:

• Advair Diskus, which is a dry powder inhaler
• Advair HFA, which is an aerosol metered-dose inhaler

You can get Advair only with a prescription from your doctor. It is not available over the counter.

Advair doesn’t work for everyone. Alternative treatments like Wixela Inhub, Breo Ellipta, Symbicort, and Trelegy may suit you better, depending on your condition and individual health history. Some cheaper, generic alternatives to Advair and possible natural alternatives are also available. You can work with a doctor to find the best option.

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Advair vs. Breo, Wixela, Symbicort, and others

Some prescription alternatives to Advair are Wixela Inhub, Breo Ellipta, Symbicort, Spiriva, Dulera, and Trelegy. Some of them help manage both asthma and COPD, and some only help with either one or the other. Here’s a brief overview of Advair compared to some commonly prescribed options:

The best medication will depend on several factors. For example, some of these medications, such as Advair HFA and Dulera, are only used for asthma. Others, like Anoro Ellipta and Spiriva HandiHaler, can only be used for COPD. Some are only available in branded forms, meaning they may be more expensive than those with generic versions.

Your age may also be a factor to consider. Some research into inhaled corticosteroids — the drug class that Advair, Breo Ellipta, Symbicort, Trelegy Ellipta, and Dulera belong to — suggested that these medications are effective in older adults with asthma and combined asthma and COPD, but less effective for older adults with COPD alone.

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Most common Advair alternatives

Although there are several available medications that may be used as alternatives to Advair, some are more commonly prescribed than others.

Symbicort

Symbicort, like Advair, is an inhaled medication that’s used to treat asthma and COPD. It contains different active ingredients: budesonide and formoterol, an inhaled corticosteroid and a long-acting beta2-adrenergic agonist, respectively. These are the same drug classes that are found in Advair.

You may be prescribed Symbicort if Advair doesn’t work for you or has side effects that affect your life. They’re also approved for different ages: Advair is approved for people ages 4 years and over, whereas Symbicort is for those ages 6 years and over.

Anoro Ellipta

Anoro Ellipta is a combination inhaler that includes a long-acting muscarinic antagonist (umeclidinium) and a long-acting beta agonist (vilanterol). It is prescribed for COPD to help relax and open the airways.

Anoro Ellipta does not contain a corticosteroid, whereas Advair does. You may be prescribed Anoro Ellipta if you cannot tolerate corticosteroids or if they cause severe side effects.

Breo Ellipta

Breo Ellipta is a combination inhaler containing a corticosteroid (fluticasone) and a long-acting beta agonist (vilanterol). It is used to treat asthma and COPD to reduce inflammation and relax the muscles in the airways. It contains the same steroid as Advair, but a different long-acting beta agonist.

Some research suggests that Breo Ellipta may be associated with a slightly lower incidence of moderate or severe COPD events than Advair Diskus. The researchers suggest this may be because people adhere to taking Breo Ellipta better because they take it once daily, whereas they have to take Advair twice daily.

What is a cheaper alternative to Advair?

Advair Diskus is available as a generic drug called Wixela Inhub. A generic contains an exact copy of the active drug in a brand-name medication. Healthcare professionals consider generic drugs just as safe and effective as the original drug, and they tend to cost less. Advair HFA does not have a generic version available yet.

Other Advair alternatives may vary in price based on:

• whether they’re covered by health insurance, if you have coverage
• the pharmacy you purchase them from

To find out how the cost of Advair Diskus, Wixela Inhub, and other Advair alternatives compare, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider.

Natural alternatives to Advair

Certain natural remedies and alternative treatments exist to help manage asthma and COPD symptoms. But it’s important to know that natural alternatives may not be as effective as traditional medications. However, if you’re interested in trying some natural alternatives for your lung health, consider the following:

• Yoga and relaxation: Exercise techniques like qigong, tai chi, and yoga emphasize controlled breathing and may provide some benefits. This kind of breath work may help improve your lung health by helping you expand your lungs and practice deep breathing.
• Acupuncture: This traditional Chinese technique involves placing very thin needles at strategic points on your body. It sometimes helps ease the symptoms of asthma and COPD.
• Curcumin: Curcumin, a compound found in turmeric, may improve your lung health due to its anti-inflammatory properties.
• Magnesium: Magnesium may help manage symptoms of asthma and COPD by relaxing the muscles in the airways and reducing inflammation.
• Vitamin C: Maintaining optimal vitamin C levels may help improve your lung function. And help protect against conditions that affect the lungs, such as COPD. It may also help prevent lung function decline in people with asthma.
• Polyunsaturated fatty acids: Long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids may have the potential to help reduce inflammation in people with lung conditions like asthma and COPD.

Doctors do not recommend replacing asthma or COPD medication with alternative therapies. Many natural alternatives have shown little or mixed results. The research is minimal compared to that of traditional medicine treatments. Ensure checking with your doctor before trying any asthma or COPD alternative treatments.

Summary

Many alternatives to Advair are available. The best alternative treatment for you will depend on the form of Advair you are using, the condition you are using it for, and your individual health history.

Wixela Inhub is a cheaper generic alternative to Advair Diskus, and there are other inhalers like Breo Ellipta, Symbicort, and others that you may want to consider. Natural alternatives are also available that may help with asthma or COPD symptoms, although they are not a suitable replacement for most medical treatments.

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