Why Is Flovent Discontinued? 4 Things to Know, Including Flovent Alternatives

There are many roadblocks that can disrupt your prescriptions being filled at the pharmacy. Recalls and shortages are common reasons for this. Sometimes, a manufacturer might discontinue a medication. This is the case for brand-name Flovent (fluticasone).

In June 2023, manufacturer GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) informed the FDA that they would be discontinuing Flovent products on January 1, 2024. This included both Flovent HFA and Flovent Diskus. These two inhalers have been widely prescribed to manage asthma for years.

This announcement was made quietly. Most news outlets didn’t become aware or notify the public of Flovent’s discontinuation until late December 2023 — mere days before it was set to take effect.

Promotion disclosure

Flovent (Fluticasone Propionate HFA)

Avg retail price

$162.58(Save 54.35%)

GoodRx discount

$74.22

See all discounts

How it works

Use GoodRx to find medications, pharmacies, and discounts.

GoodRx discounts can help you pay less for your prescription.

Bring your free coupon or savings card to the pharmacy.

If you relied on one of these Flovent products for your medication, you likely have some questions. Below, we’ll discuss four things you need to know about Flovent’s discontinuation, including what replacement options are available.

1. Flovent was discontinued because it now has an authorized generic

Simply put, Flovent HFA and Flovent Diskus were discontinued because they both now have authorized generic versions available. In fact, Flovent HFA has had an authorized generic since May 2022. The authorized generic for Flovent Diskus was launched in October 2023.

It’s possible you may already be receiving a generic version of Flovent. If this is the case, then you can rest easy. Generic fluticasone inhalers aren’t going anywhere. GSK has only discontinued brand-name Flovent.

2. Generic fluticasone inhalers are the same as brand-name Flovent

There’s a good chance you take or have taken a generic medication at some point. Generic medications can help save you money at the pharmacy without sacrificing quality. What’s more, generic medications are held to the same rigorous standards by the FDA as brand-name medications.

But the generic versions of Flovent HFA and Flovent Diskus go a step beyond this. They’re authorized generics, meaning not only are they made by the original manufacturer, but they’re also the exact same medication. They just have a label with a generic name on it. And they may be distributed by other companies.

In the case of generic fluticasone inhalers, GSK is still manufacturing them. They’ll be distributed by a company called Prasco Laboratories. You should expect the same results from fluticasone inhalers as you experienced with brand-name Flovent.

3. There may be changes to how your insurance covers generic Flovent

There are often insurance coverage issues shortly after generic medications come to market. There are still some insurance plans covering the generic versions of Flovent, but others prefer a different brand-name inhaler over generic fluticasone instead.

It’s a good idea to check your health insurance’s medication formulary. This is a list of your insurance plan’s covered medications. It can often be found online or requested by mail. For instructions on how to locate your plan’s formulary, call the customer service number on your prescription insurance card.

Good to know: Your pharmacy should alert you to any insurance problems that arise while filling your prescription. Your pharmacist can work with your medical team to help get a prescription for your insurance’s preferred inhaler.

4. There are alternatives to Flovent

If needed, there are alternatives to Flovent. You can discuss these options with the healthcare professional who prescribes your inhaler.

Flovent is an inhaled corticosteroid. Other inhalers in this class of medications include:

• Arnuity Ellipta (fluticasone) — contains the same active ingredient as Flovent

• ArmonAir Digihaler (fluticasone) — contains the same active ingredient as Flovent

• Pulmicort Flexhaler (budesonide)

• Qvar RediHaler (beclomethasone)

• Asmanex HFA (mometasone)

• Asmanex Twisthaler (mometasone)

• Alvesco (ciclesonide)

There are also combination inhalers that your asthma care team may suggest, depending on your symptoms and insurance coverage. Popular examples include:

• Advair Diskus (fluticasone / salmeterol)

• Advair HFA (fluticasone / salmeterol)

• Breo Ellipta (fluticasone / vilanterol)

• Symbicort (budesonide / formoterol)

What should you do if you currently use brand-name Flovent?

If you currently have brand-name Flovent inhalers at home, there are steps you can take now to help prevent going without medication:

• Call your pharmacy. Your pharmacist can help facilitate the conversation with your medical care team to get an alternative.

• Check your insurance plan’s formulary. As discussed above, this can help you determine which inhaler they’re covering in place of brand-name Flovent.

• Call your medical professional’s office. Many healthcare teams are already aware that brand-name Flovent is discontinued. They can determine the best inhaler to prescribe for you instead.

It’s better to take these steps while you still have medication left. Waiting until your Flovent inhaler runs out may lead to delays in getting you a replacement.

Why trust our experts?

Written 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:

Stacia Woodcock, PharmD

Stacia Woodcock, PharmD, is a pharmacy editor for GoodRx. She earned her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Kentucky and is licensed in New York and Massachusetts.

Our editorial standards

Meet our experts