West Coast Wildfires Spur an Increase in Asthma Medication Fills Nationwide
Tori Marsh - September 17, 2018
Smoke from more than 50 massive wildfires across the Western United States is spreading, causing smoky skies, breathing challenges, and high prescription fill rates for asthma medications—even for cities in the Midwest and on the East Coast.
According to a nationally representative sample of prescriptions, fills for asthma medications this July and August were more than 20% higher than normal in Oregon, Washington, Montana and Northern California. See More
Save on Prescription Medications With Over 680 Copay Cards on GoodRx.com
Tori Marsh - August 16, 2018
Have you ever gone to the pharmacy only to realize that you’re on the hook for a high copay or your insurance just won’t cover your medication at all. You’re not alone. Luckily, many drug manufacturers offer savings through copay cards, also known as manufacturer coupons. These programs are typically for brand-name drugs, and can lower the price of your medication to as little as $0.
GoodRx currently has information on over 680 active copay cards for hundreds of prescription medications. See More
Taking Symbicort for Asthma? Here’s How to Save
Tori Marsh - December 15, 2017
Symbicort (budesonide/formoterol) is a common maintenance inhaler, taken on a daily basis to treat asthma and COPD, but it’s not cheap. Cash prices average around $323 for one inhaler, and out of pocket costs for those who fill Symbicort regularly can be unmanageable.
Symbicort works well. Around 60% of people rate that Symbicort is ‘worth it’, according to our friends at Iodine. If Symbicort works well for you, or your doctor thinks it’s best for you, how can you make it more affordable? Here’s some information about Symbicort and how you can save. See More
10 Common Side Effects of Combination Inhalers
Dr. Sharon Orrange - August 03, 2017
Combination inhalers prescribed for asthma, smoking lung disease (COPD), or persistent cough after an upper respiratory infection are some of the top selling drugs in the United States. Several steroid + long acting bronchodilator combinations are currently available: the older Advair and Symbicort and the newer Dulera and Breo Ellipta.
While Advair and Symbicort are recommended for treatment of both moderate persistent asthma and COPD, Breo has been introduced with the indication for COPD treatment only. See More
Teva Simultaneously Releases AirDuo RespiClick and Authorized Generic for Asthma
Roni Shye - May 04, 2017
In an effort to compete with the popular asthma medication Advair, Teva Pharmaceuticals announced their simultaneous release of the dry powder inhaler AirDuo RespiClick, and its authorized generic fluticasone/salmeterol. Although manufacturers don’t typically release both the brand and the generic simultaneously, this is big news, as fluticasone/salmeterol is the first and only combination inhaler!
What are AirDuo RespiClick and fluticasone/salmeterol indicated for?
AirDuo and its authorized generic are both indicated for the treatment of asthma in patients 12 years of age and older. See More
Stay Healthy This Summer!
Roni Shye - June 13, 2014
When the sun finally comes out and the weather starts to change, you can tell that summer is nearby. It’s a great time to spend more time outside, but you may be more prone to summertime illnesses and injuries like allergies, insect bites, sunburns, rashes, cuts and scrapes, dehydration, and asthma. Here are some things to watch out for:
Asthma
It can sometimes be difficult to do outdoor activities in the hot summer sun even if you don’t have asthma or breathing problems—if you do have asthma, you’ll want to be extra careful. See More
What! My Advair Isn’t Covered? Advair vs Symbicort, Does It Matter?
Dr. Sharon Orrange - December 05, 2013
Enough of you were using Advair Diskus (fluticasone propionate and salmeterol) to make it one of the top 10 selling drugs last year. Now, Express Scripts, the nation’s largest pharmacy benefit manager, will not cover it or Advair HFA (see more information here) and instead recommends Symbicort (budesonide and formoterol). So, what’s the deal?
Why do we need bronchodilators plus inhaled glucocorticoids in the first place?
Advair, Symbicort and Dulera are all inhaled glucocorticoids mixed with a long-acting bronchodilator. See More
Battle of the Asthma Inhalers
Dr. Sharon Orrange - September 20, 2012
Asthma sufferers not only deal with a chronic problem but the high cost as well. When it comes to asthma there are quick-relief inhalers and long-term controller inhalers. Once your doctor has decided you need a long-term control inhaler (not just your albuterol inhaler), you will be faced with a choice of three. All three are expensive but which one is right for you?
Long acting bronchodilators (LABAs) mixed with an inhaled steroid have become the mainstay of asthma treatment for those with moderate asthma symptoms. See More
