Dulera

Introduction

Written by Julz Richterman, PharmD, MBA, BCGP
Medically reviewed by Christina Bookwalter, PharmD, MS MEd, BCPS, BCACP
Updated on July 5, 2024

Dulera is a brand-name inhaler medication that’s prescribed for asthma in adults and certain children. Dulera is not available in a generic version. The cost of Dulera with or without insurance can depend on several factors. It might be lowered by using a coupon.

Dulera comes as an aerosol for use in a metered dose inhaler. You inhale the medication twice a day. (Read more about Dulera dosage.)

Read on to learn about Dulera and cost. You’ll also find available coupons and suggestions for ways to save on your prescription. If you’d like more information about Dulera, including its uses, refer to this overview article.

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Cost of Dulera

Like other medications, the cost of Dulera can vary. Certain factors may affect its price, such as:

• your insurance plan, if you have coverage
• the pharmacy you use
• the quantity prescribed

To find out how much Dulera costs, ask your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider. They may be able to suggest ways to save money on your prescription, including those described in this article. To find out what you’d pay using savings coupons, see the “Coupons” section.

Coupons for Dulera

Prescription drug coupons can help you save money by lowering the cost of Dulera. The Optum Perks coupons above can provide significant savings on your prescription costs.

Note: Optum Perks coupons cannot be used with any insurance copays or benefits.

Available app for coupons

To make finding and using these coupons easier, you can download the Optum Perks app. To learn more about this prescription discount app, see this article.

Insurance and other considerations for Dulera

Here’s a list of things to consider about the cost of prescription drugs:

• Prior authorization: If you have prescription drug insurance, your insurance company may require prior authorization before it covers the cost of Dulera. In this case, your doctor will communicate with your insurance company regarding your prescription for Dulera. The insurance company will decide whether to cover the medication. If a drug requires prior authorization and you begin using it without this, you may have to pay the full price of the drug.
• A 3-month supply: If you’re using Dulera long term, your doctor may suggest a 90-day supply of the medication. This will have to be approved by your insurance company. Getting a 90-day supply could help lower the drug’s cost. It could also save you time having to make trips to your pharmacy.
• Savings accounts: If you’re eligible for a health savings account (HSA) or a flexible spending account (FSA), you can likely use funds from these accounts to pay for your prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medications. HSA and FSA plans help people save money by using pretax dollars to pay for eligible healthcare expenses, such as prescription and OTC drugs. To learn more about whether you’re eligible for these savings accounts and how to use them, talk with your insurance provider or employer.

If you have questions about any of these considerations, ask your doctor or pharmacist. Or contact your insurance company and talk with a representative.

If you don’t have a health insurance plan, let your doctor or pharmacist know. They may suggest online pharmacy options you could use. You can also ask them about ways to obtain health insurance coverage.

Brand names vs. generics

Dulera is a brand-name medication. It’s not available in a generic version.

A generic medication is an identical copy of the active ingredient in a brand-name medication. (An active ingredient is what makes a medication work.) 

Generics usually cost less than brand-name drugs. And they’re thought to be as safe and effective as the brand-name version.

Talk with your doctor or pharmacist if you have questions about generic and brand-name medications.

Why is Dulera so expensive?

Dulera is a brand-name medication. Brand-name drugs can be expensive because of the studies needed to test how safe and effective they are.

Makers of a brand-name drug can patent and sell their drug for up to 20 years. When the patent for a brand-name drug expires, other drugmakers can make and sell generic versions.

The active ingredients in generic medications are identical to those in brand-name medications. So they don’t require the same testing, which can be costly. As a result, generic medications typically cost significantly less than brand-name drugs when they can be produced.

If you’d like to know more about the cost differences between brand-name and generic drugs, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Common questions about Dulera and cost

Here are some common questions and answers about Dulera.

What is the cost of Dulera with and without insurance?

Dulera may be more expensive without insurance or if you have a higher copay with insurance. This is because Dulera is only available as a brand-name medication. Also, your insurance provider may require prior authorization before covering the cost. In this case, your doctor will talk with your insurance provider about why Dulera is best for you.

If you do not have insurance, prescription drug coupons could help lower your cost. See the “Coupons” section to learn more.

Talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider to learn more about the cost of your Dulera prescription.

Is Dulera covered by Medicare?

Yes, generally, Medicare Part D prescription drug plans cover Dulera. But Dulera is only available as a brand-name drug. So your insurance plan may have it listed on a higher tier on the drug formulary. (A formulary is a list of medications an insurance provider covers.) Usually, drugs on higher tiers have higher copays than drugs on lower tiers.

Talk with your pharmacist or Medicare insurance provider to learn more about your cost for Dulera with Medicare.

What is the cost of Dulera 100 mcg/5 mcg inhaler compared with the cost of Dulera 200 mcg/5 mcg inhaler?

The price of the different Dulera inhalers is usually the same for a drug strength of 100 micrograms (mcg) or 200 mcg per 5 mcg aerosol dose. But this depends on the pharmacy you use, the insurance you have, and the quantity you get.

Talk with your pharmacist to learn more about your cost for Dulera.

Resources

• Dulera (mometasone furoate and formoterol fumarate dihydrate) inhalation aerosol, for oral inhalation use. (2019). https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2019/022518s026lbl.pdf
• Food and Drug Administration. (2024). Orange Book: Approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence evaluations. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/ob/index.cfm

Disclaimer: Optum Perks has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.