Flovent Inhaler Availability

Flovent Discontinued

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has announced that it will stop producing Flovent HFA and Flovent Diskus for distribution in the United States. The company plans to continue manufacturing the same products by simply producing a Flovent generic directly. These are considered authorized generics, which means they will be identical apart from the labeling — and the potential price tag. 

Flovent Price

Prior to their discontinuation, a Flovent-branded inhaler was available for retail prices of around $250 to $350, depending on factors like the form, strength, and your choice of pharmacy. The price of a generic fluticasone inhaler provided by GSK is meant to be significantly less, or about $170 to $180 for an HFA inhaler. 

Of course, this price change is a welcome one, but it does present some potential logistical problems for healthcare providers, pharmacies, and, ultimately, the patients who rely on the medication. 

Challenges Related to the Generic Fluticasone Inhaler 

Inventory

Savings for the individual consumer have the potential to be diluted as they pass through wholesalers and retail pharmacies and are further influenced by insurance companies and pharmacy benefit managers. It also takes time for pharmacies and their suppliers to adjust to inventory demands related to stocking alternative inventory. While the product itself is identical, its alternative labeling means it will need to be processed as a different product by wholesalers, pharmacies, and insurance companies. 

Many media outlets and healthcare providers have also encouraged patients to buy these inhalers rapidly, as their availability has the potential to be inconsistent during the transition. This, of course, can be a self-fulfilling prophecy influenced by the fluctuations in demand. 

Insurance Coverage

While a price reduction to around $175 per month is undeniably an improvement, it remains out of reach for many patients. Insurance coverage is relied upon to bear the brunt of these costs and reduce out-of-pocket expenses to more manageable copays. 

Unfortunately, insurance providers and benefit managers can be delayed in accepting claims for newly marketed products, leading to coverage denials. In some cases, insurance providers may opt to continue offering preferred coverage for other brand-name inhalers, leaving the generic fluticasone inhaler without insurance coverage. 

All of this leads to difficulty accessing Flovent asthma inhalers, which have been central to asthma care for decades. 

Are There Flovent Alternatives?

Flovent contains the active ingredient fluticasone propionate, which is an inhaled corticosteroid (ICS). These medications remain crucial in asthma management for many patients, and there are alternative medications available in this class. For instance, your healthcare provider may recommend switching to:

• Qvar (beclomethasone)

• Pulmicort (budesonide)

• Alvesco (ciclesonide)

• Asmanex (mometasone)

Each of these inhalers offers a medication in the same class, but they are not equivalent. 

If you’ve done particularly well managing your symptoms with fluticasone, you may wish to speak with your insurance provider about coverage of the generic. If you do not have insurance or you find the Flovent generic will not be covered by your plan, you have a few options. 

There are other branded products that contain the same ingredient:

• ArmonAir Digihaler (fluticasone propionate powder – dry powder inhaler)

• Arnuity Ellipta (fluticasone furoate powder – dry powder inhaler)

These are both dry powder inhalers, so individuals who prefer an HFA that delivers the medication via a propellant may not be as satisfied with these options. It’s also important to remember that while these products contain fluticasone, they are not considered equivalent to Flovent, so some variability in response is possible. 

Generic Flovent can also be purchased directly from many different sources. You need a prescription, of course, but the prices of medications like fluticasone inhalers can vary widely between pharmacies. Many individuals also check the prices available at Canadian pharmacies, which can provide significant savings for many drug products. A recent study published in the journal Clinical Drug Investigation estimates that an average savings of about 72% for many commonly used medications were available when compared with US prices. 

What Are The Best Online Pharmacies In Canada That Ship To The US? 

Particularly if you don’t have prescription insurance or if you have a high deductible, you’re likely already acutely aware of the high costs of prescription inhalers. As prescription products pass through the hands of suppliers and retail pharmacies, costs have the potential to soar. This leads many people to use pharmacies in Canada and worldwide to source products like fluticasone inhalers. 

A Canadian pharmacy or international government-approved dispensary can ship your medications directly, bringing the savings to your door. Buying directly from Canadian pharmacies and international government-approved dispensaries will likely give you the best retail price for your needed medications. 

PlanetDrugsDirect, a prescription referral service, contracts with licensed Canadian pharmacies and government-approved dispensaries to help get you the best value possible. Feel free to reach out today! We would love to help you find the prescription medications you need at a fair price.