Flovent HFA vs. Flovent Diskus: What’s the Difference?

Asthma is a common condition that affects millions of children and adults in the U.S. People with asthma have lungs with swollen airways. And these swollen airways can lead to symptoms of coughing, wheezing, and breathing difficulties.

Thankfully, there are a number of medications that can relieve and control asthma symptoms. Two common but similar inhalers are Flovent HFA and Flovent Diskus, which both contain fluticasone propionate.

In this article, we’ll compare the Flovent HFA and Diskus inhalers: what they are, their pros and cons, and what side effects to expect.

What are Flovent HFA and Flovent Diskus?

Flovent HFA and Flovent Diskus can be tough to tell apart, with similar names and the same active ingredient. Although both types of Flovent inhalers treat asthma, they are available in different doses and, most importantly, are used differently. 

The medication in both the Flovent HFA and Diskus inhalers is a corticosteroid. When inhaled, corticosteroids lower inflammation and swelling within the airways.

What are the Flovent HFA and Diskus inhalers used for?

Flovent HFA and Flovent Diskus are both maintenance inhalers. Maintenance inhalers are used daily to help control your asthma symptoms. When you use your maintenance inhaler(s) properly, you should have fewer and less severe asthma attacks.

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How are the Flovent HFA and Diskus inhalers different?

Flovent HFA is an inhalation aerosol, which means that the inhaler uses a propellant or mechanism to help disperse the medication, so that the liquid particles make it into your lungs. The HFA stands for hydrofluoroalkane. HFA is an environmentally friendly propellant that doesn’t hurt the Earth’s ozone layer.

Flovent Diskus, on the other hand, is a powder inhaler and does not use a propellant to get the medication into your lungs. The Diskus inhaler relies on your ability to inhale the powder medication, in order for it to be dispersed properly.

Doses

Flovent HFA is available in the following inhalation doses: 

• 44 mcg

• 110 mcg 

• 220 mcg 

Flovent Diskus, on the other hand, has the following inhalation doses: 

• 50 mcg 

• 100 mcg

• 250 mcg

How to save on Flovent HFA and Diskus

There are many ways to save on Flovent HFA and Diskus. Both are available as brand-name medications. But you can also find Flovent HFA as a lower-cost generic. GoodRx can help you navigate many ways to save on your prescription.

• Save with GoodRx. GoodRx can help you save up to 60% off the average retail price of the generic version of Flovent HFA.

• Save with patient assistance programs. If you’re uninsured or underinsured, you may be eligible for the Flovent Diskus patient assistance program, which offers the medication free of cost.

What are the common side effects of Flovent HFA and Diskus?

The Flovent HFA and Diskus inhalers have a number of similar side effects. But the risk varies depending on the total daily dose and type of inhaler.

The following table lists some common side effects with both inhalers and the percentage of people that experience them. 

What are the serious side effects of Flovent HFA and Diskus?

Severe side effects are possible with both Flovent inhalers. Reach out to your healthcare provider if you experience any of the following serious side effects. If you feel that you’re experiencing life-threatening symptoms, get medical help right away.

Severe allergic reaction

Although rare, severe allergic reactions are possible with both inhalers. Get immediate medical attention if you develop shortness of breath or swelling of the face, tongue, or throat after using your inhaler. 

If you have a severe milk protein allergy, you shouldn’t use Flovent Diskus because it contains lactose. 

Higher risk of infection

The corticosteroid in the Flovent inhalers may suppress your immune system. So your body may have a harder time fighting off certain infections. Notify your healthcare provider right away if you’re exposed to chickenpox or measles.

Fungal infections of the mouth and throat

Thrush is a fungal infection that can occur in your mouth and throat. It’s a common side effect of the Flovent inhalers. 

In some cases, thrush can become serious, especially if you have a weakened immune system. You can help prevent thrush by rinsing your mouth with water after using Flovent HFA or Flovent Diskus.

Adrenal insufficiency

Long-term use of high-dose steroid inhalers raises the likelihood of adrenal insufficiency. This is when you don’t make enough of the stress hormone, cortisol. If this happens, your healthcare provider may have you gradually discontinue your inhaler.

Lower bone mineral density

A bone density scan measures your bone mineral density (BMD). BMD tells your healthcare provider how strong and healthy your bones are. The corticosteroid in the Flovent inhalers may lower your BMD and raise your risk of fractures (breaks).

Eye-related effects

Using the Flovent HFA and Diskus inhalers for a long time is linked to eye problems, such as glaucoma (high eye pressure) and cataracts (cloudy vision). 

Flovent HFA pros and cons

Let’s review some of the pros and cons of Flovent HFA.

Pros

Flovent HFA is a metered-dose inhaler (MDI), which is a commonly used type of inhaler. This could be a plus if you’re already familiar with how to use one. Flovent HFA can also be used with a spacer if you need or prefer one, whereas Flovent Diskus cannot.

Cons

Flovent HFA requires hand-breath coordination for proper use. If you’re new to using this type of inhaler, hand-breath coordination can take some time to learn and become comfortable with.

Flovent Diskus pros and cons

Let’s review some of the pros and cons of Flovent Diskus.

Pros

Flovent Diskus doesn’t need to be primed before or between uses. And it doesn’t require the hand-breath coordination necessary to use traditional inhalers, like Flovent HFA. This means that you don’t have to be able to depress the canister and inhale at the same time, because your breath is doing the work to pull the medication into your lungs, rather than a propellant.

Cons

Once you take the Flovent Diskus inhaler out of the foil package, you must use it within 6 weeks to 2 months, depending on the strength. And it can’t be used with a spacer, while Flovent HFA can. If you’re used to a traditional inhaler, using the Diskus inhaler may be challenging initially.

Flovent vs. Advair

Like Flovent, Advair comes in both HFA and Diskus inhalers that have different inhalation doses. And the Advair HFA and Advair Diskus inhalers also contain fluticasone propionate. 

In addition to  fluticasone propionate, the Advair inhalers also contain salmeterol. Salmeterol is a long-acting beta agonist (LABA) that’s used to relax your airways.

Similar to Flovent, the Advair HFA and Diskus inhalers can be used to treat asthma. Both of the Flovent inhalers and the Advair Diskus inhaler can be used by people ages 4 and up. But Advair HFA can only be used by people who are 12 and older. 

Unlike the Flovent inhalers, which are only FDA-approved for asthma, Advair Diskus is also a treatment option for a lung condition called chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

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Written by:

Ross Phan, PharmD, BCACP, BCGP, BCPS

Ross Phan is a board-certified clinical pharmacist. She has roughly two decades of healthcare experience — with most of her experience being pharmacy related.

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.

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