Advair Diskus and HFA Dosages: Your GoodRx Guide

Managing asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) can be challenging. Maintenance inhalers like Advair Diskus or Advair HFA can help lessen or prevent symptoms. Both Advair inhalers combine two medications: fluticasone and salmeterol. But getting the right dose is crucial for them to be effective and safe.

Advair Diskus and Advair HFA typical dosages vary based on your age and how severe your symptoms are. Knowing the proper Advair Diskus dosage and how it differs from Advair HFA dosages can help you use your medication correctly.

If you’re unsure how to use your inhaler, your prescriber and pharmacist are great resources.

Good to know: You shouldn’t use Advair Diskus or Advair HFA if you’re having sudden trouble breathing, such as an asthma attack. It can take 1 week or longer for either Advair inhaler to reach its full effects. So you should always have a fast-acting rescue inhaler, such as albuterol (ProAir, Proventil, Ventolin), on hand in case of sudden breathing difficulties.

What’s the typical Advair dosage for adults?

Advair dosages for adults vary depending on which form you’re using. But both are used twice a day, with doses spread about 12 hours apart.

Advair Diskus is a disc-shaped dry powder inhaler. Its two medications are contained in a very fine powder. You’ll need to take a quick, deep breath for the powder to reach your lungs.

Advair HFA is an L-shaped metered dose inhaler (MDI). It uses a propellant to push the medication out of the inhaler’s canister. You’ll have to take a slow, deep breath as you push down the canister. Using an MDI can be tricky. A spacer can help you get your full Advair HFA dose.

Good to know: Regardless of whether you use Advair Diskus or Advair HFA, you should rinse your mouth with water after each dose. This helps lower your risk of developing a fungal infection of the mouth and throat called oral thrush.

Advair Diskus dosage

The typical Advair Diskus dosage for adults is to inhale one puff by mouth twice a day. Each dose should be separated by about 12 hours.

Advair Diskus comes in three doses and is FDA approved to treat asthma and COPD:

• 100 mcg fluticasone / 50 mcg salmeterol

• 250 mcg fluticasone / 50 mcg salmeterol

• 500 mcg fluticasone / 50 mcg salmeterol

If you’re living with asthma, your dose will depend on how severe your symptoms are. Your prescriber may also change your dose if your symptoms become more or less severe. If you’re living with COPD, Advair’s manufacturer recommends using the 250 mcg/50 mcg dose.

If you have a lactose or milk protein allergy, make sure your prescriber knows. Advair Diskus contains lactose and milk proteins as inactive ingredients.

Advair HFA dosage

The typical Advair HFA dosage for adults is to inhale two puffs by mouth twice a day. Each dose should be separated by about 12 hours.

Advair HFA comes in three doses and is FDA approved to treat asthma:

• 45 mcg fluticasone / 21 mcg salmeterol

• 115 mcg fluticasone / 21 mcg salmeterol

• 230 mcg fluticasone / 21 mcg salmeterol

Your dose will depend on how severe your asthma symptoms are. Your prescriber may also change your dose if your symptoms become more or less severe. Advair HFA is not approved to treat COPD. And unlike Advair Diskus, Advair HFA does not contain lactose or milk proteins.

EXPERT PICKS: WHAT TO READ NEXT

• What side effects does Advair cause? Read more about Advair’s side effects — from sore throat to headache — and how to manage them.

• Are there other maintenance inhalers? Learn about other popular long-acting maintenance inhalers and how they work.

• Should you clean your inhaler? Yes, cleaning inhalers regularly helps them work effectively. Here’s how to clean your inhaler and how often it’s recommended.

What’s the typical Advair dosage for children?

Adolescents ages 12 years and older can follow the typical adult dosages for either Advair Diskus or Advair HFA. But dosages for children under 12 vary between products. Advair HFA isn’t FDA approved for children under 12. But Advair Diskus is approved to treat asthma in kids as young as 4 years old.

Advair Diskus and Advair HFA are only approved to treat asthma in children. COPD isn’t common or well studied in children. Be sure to follow treatment instructions from your child’s prescriber if they’re using Advair for COPD. This is an off-label use of the inhaler, and there’s no standard dosage recommendations for this use in kids.

Advair Diskus dosage for children

The typical Advair Diskus dosage for children ages 4 to 11 years is to inhale 1 puff by mouth twice daily. Doses should be separated by about 12 hours.

It’s recommended that children in this age group only use the 100 mcg/50 mcg dose of Advair Diskus. Higher doses haven’t been well studied in children under 12.

Are there any dosage adjustments for health conditions?

No. There are no recommended dosage adjustments for Advair Diskus or Advair HFA for people with certain health conditions. Some medications require dosage changes for people with liver or kidney problems. But this isn’t the case for Advair.

If you have asthma, your prescriber may adjust your Advair dose based on your symptoms. For example, if your symptoms aren’t managed well enough with the 100 mcg/50 mcg Advair Diskus, they may have you try the 250 mcg/50 mcg dose instead. But the dosage will still be 1 puff (for Advair Diskus) or 2 puffs (for Advair HFA) twice a day.

What happens if you miss a dose of Advair?

If you miss a dose of either Advair HFA or Advair Diskus, just skip that dose. Take your next dose at its usual time. Don’t take two doses at one time. Taking doses too close together can cause unwanted side effects, such as an elevated heart rate.

What should you do if you use too much Advair?

Accidentally using an extra dose of Advair Diskus or Advair HFA isn’t likely to cause harm. But you may experience more side effects, as mentioned above.

However, consistently using too many doses of either Advair inhaler can lead to more serious side effects. Excessive amounts of the salmeterol component can lead to complications such as chest pain, raised blood pressure, or abnormal heart rhythms.

If you feel like your current Advair Diskus or Advair HFA dosage isn’t helping, let your prescriber know. They may suggest raising your dose or switching to a different maintenance inhaler.

If you’ve used too much Advair, it’s a good idea to contact your prescriber for guidance. They can let you know if you should seek further care. You can also call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 if your prescriber isn’t available. If you’re experiencing any severe or life-threatening symptoms, call 911 or go to the nearest ER.

How to save on Advair Diskus and Advair HFA

Advair Diskus and Advair HFA are available as brand-name medications. But you can also find them as lower-cost generics. GoodRx can help you navigate ways to save on your prescription.

GoodRx can help you save over 70% off the average retail price of generic Advair. The price of generic Advair Diskus at certain pharmacies is as low as $56.66 with a free GoodRx discount. Generic Advair HFA’s price may be as low as $235.17.

Why trust our experts?

Written by:

Sarah Morin, RPh

Sarah Morin, RPh, has been a registered pharmacist for over 25 years. She started out as a hospital pharmacist, working at Rhode Island Hospital and then at the University of Connecticut Health Center.

Edited by:

Christina Aungst, PharmD

Christina Aungst, PharmD, is a pharmacy editor for GoodRx. She began writing for GoodRx Health in 2019, transitioning from freelance writer to editor in 2021.

Reviewed by:

Alyssa Billingsley, PharmD

Alyssa Billingsley, PharmD, is the director of pharmacy content for GoodRx. She has over a decade of experience as a pharmacist and has worked in clinical, academic, and administrative roles.

Our editorial standards

Meet our experts