A GoodRx Savings Guide to 25 Asthma Inhalers: Ventolin, Symbicort, Trelegy, and More

Effective asthma treatment requires consistent use of prescribed medicines. But for people with asthma, accessing inhalers can be a common roadblock.

According to Kenneth Mendez, President and CEO of the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, inhaler affordability is a significant issue.

"Affordability of prescription medicines remains the top reason for people not taking their asthma medication. When the cost of treatment is too high, people with asthma tend to limit how often they take their medicines or stop taking them altogether,” said Mendez. “Lower out-of-pocket costs greatly help people manage their asthma and have a better quality of life.”

How to save on asthma inhalers

The first place to start to save on asthma inhalers is by using health insurance, whether your patients have commercial insurance plans or Medicare Part D.

But health insurance won’t always make the out-of-pocket cost affordable, and it may not cover preferred inhalers. And, of course, some people don’t have insurance at all. In these cases, there are other ways to save.

Some options include:

• GoodRx coupons, which may beat the insurance copay

• Manufacturer copay cards, which are typically available to people with commercial insurance

• Patient assistance programs (PAPs), which provide medications free of charge to eligible individuals — usually those who are underinsured or uninsured

SABA inhalers

All patients with asthma should have a reliever inhaler for breakthrough symptoms and exacerbations. Commonly prescribed short-acting beta agonists (SABAs) come in the form of metered-dose inhalers (MDIs) and dry powder inhalers (DPIs). 

Here’s a look at savings options for SABAs.

Note that two well-known brand-name albuterol products — ProAir HFA and Proventil HFA — have been discontinued by their manufacturers. They’re now only available as generics.

ProAir Digihaler was also discontinued and does not have a generic. ProAir RespiClick is the therapeutic equivalent, as it’s the same inhaler without the digital component.

ICS inhalers

According to the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA), SABAs should not be prescribed alone. Inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) inhalers are recommended to reduce the risk of exacerbations. ICS inhalers can be prescribed alone or in combination with other medications (more on this below).

Here’s how your patients can save on stand-alone ICS inhalers.

Flovent (fluticasone propionate) was discontinued by its manufacturer in early 2024. Now, Flovent HFA and Flovent Diskus are only available as generic products. ArmonAir Digihaler was also discontinued in 2024.

LABA-only and LAMA-only inhalers

LABAs are typically combined with ICS for maintenance therapy. But there is one LABA-only inhaler option.

Serevent Diskus (salmeterol) DPI is the only stand-alone LABA currently FDA approved for asthma. Cost savings include:

• As low as $414.99 with a free GoodRx discount

• PAP for Serevent

• $35 monthly price cap

When step-up therapy is needed, it may be beneficial to add a long-acting muscarinic antagonist (LAMA) to your treatment plan.

Spiriva Respimat (tiotropium) is the only LAMA FDA approved for treatment of asthma (others are approved for COPD). Savings options include:

• As low as $523.68 with a free GoodRx discount

• As low as $35 per month with a manufacturer copay card

• PAP for Spiriva Respimat

• $35 monthly price cap

SABA + ICS inhalers

There’s one combination inhaler that pairs a SABA and ICS together: Airsupra (albuterol / budesonide). It was the first SABA + ICS combination inhaler to be approved for reliever treatment. Airsupra is not a maintenance medication.

Savings options for Airsupra include:

• As low as $483.08 with a free GoodRx discount

• As low as $0 per month with a manufacturer copay card

• PAP for Airsupra

• $35 monthly price cap

ICS + LABA inhalers

ICS + LABA combination inhalers are commonly used when stepping up therapy. There are many options for ICS and LABA combinations, and many ways to save.

In recent years, guidelines have moved towards single maintenance and reliever therapy (SMART or MART) for people with moderate-to-severe asthma. Rather than maintenance plus reliever inhalers, combination ICS + rapid-acting LABA inhalers (formoterol) are recommended. This approach reduces exacerbations and improves medication adherence. Other ICS + LABA inhalers may be used, but they are not recommended for SMART due to the slower onset of action of other LABAs.

Here are some ways for your patients to save on ICS + LABA combination inhalers at the pharmacy:

ICS + LAMA + LABA inhaler

Trelegy Ellipta (fluticasone furoate / umeclidinium / vilanterol) DPI was the first triple-therapy combination inhaler approved for asthma in the U.S. It’s indicated for maintenance treatment in adults. According to GINA, triple therapy can be considered when asthma is not well controlled despite medium or high dose ICS-LABA.

Savings options for Trelegy Ellipat include:

• As low as $688.77 with a free GoodRx discount

• As low as $0 for up to a 90-day supply (maximum savings of $200 per fill) with a manufacturer copay card

• PAP for Trelegy

• $35 monthly price cap

Why trust our experts?

Written by:

Joshua Murdock, PharmD, BCBBS

Joshua Murdock, PharmD, BCBBS, is a licensed pharmacist in Arizona, Colorado, and Rhode Island. He has worked in the pharmacy industry for more than 10 years and currently serves as a pharmacy editor for GoodRx.

Written 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.

Reviewed by:

Sophie Vergnaud, MD

Sophie Vergnaud, MD, is the Senior Medical Director for GoodRx Health. A pulmonologist and hospitalist, she practiced and taught clinical medicine at hospitals in London for a decade before entering a career in health education and technology.

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