Types of Asthma Inhalers and How to Choose the Best One for You
If you have asthma, you probably use an inhaler — and you may need more than one. Learn the different types of asthma inhalers and which one you need.
Serevent Diskus
Used for Asthma, COPD
Used for Asthma, COPD
Serevent Diskus (salmeterol) is a bronchodilator called a long-acting beta agonist (LABA). It's used as maintenance treatment for asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It's also used to prevent exercise-induced bronchospasm (EIB). It comes as a Diskus dry powder inhaler that delivers 50 mcg of salmeterol per inhalation through the mouth. The typical dose for asthma and COPD is 1 inhalation every 12 hours; the typical dose for the prevention of exercise-induced asthma is 1 inhalation at least 30 minutes before exercising. Side effects include headache and stuffy or runny nose.
What is Serevent Diskus (salmeterol)?
What is Serevent Diskus (salmeterol) used for?
- Prevention of exercise-induced bronchospasm (EIB) in people ages 4 years and older
- Maintenance treatment of asthma in people ages 4 years and older (as an add-on medication to an inhaled corticosteroid (ICS))
- Maintenance treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in adults
How Serevent Diskus (salmeterol) works
Serevent Diskus (salmeterol) is a long-acting beta agonist (LABA). It works by relaxing the muscles in your lungs to open up your airways, making it easier to breathe.
Drug facts
| Common Brands | Serevent Diskus |
|---|---|
| Drug Class | LABA |
| Controlled Substance Classification | Not a controlled medication |
| Generic Status | No lower-cost generic available |
| Availability | Prescription only |
Side effects of Serevent Diskus (salmeterol)
The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.
Common Side Effects
- Headache (17%)
- Muscle pain (12%)
- Stuffy nose (9%)
- Sore throat (7%)
- Respiratory infections (7%)
Less Common Side Effects
- Runny nose
- Cough
- Rash
- Itching
- Nausea or vomiting
- Dizziness
Serevent Diskus (salmeterol) serious side effects
Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.
- Severe allergic reaction: hives; swelling of your face, lips, or tongue; difficulty breathing
- Sudden narrowing of your airways (bronchospasm): throat swelling, difficulty breathing, wheezing, chest pain or tightness, cough, choking
- Heart problems: headache, dizziness, trouble sleeping, tiredness, weakness, nausea, tremor, irregular heartbeat, worsening symptoms of heart problem you already have
The following Serevent Diskus (salmeterol) side effects have also been reported
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:
More common
Cough producing mucus
difficulty with breathing
headache
irritation of the throat
tightness in the chest
Less common
Blistering, burning, crusting, dryness, or flaking of the skin
blurred vision
burning, crawling, itching, numbness, prickling, "pins and needles", or tingling feelings
chills
colds
dizziness
flushed, dry skin
fruit-like breath odor
general feeling of discomfort or illness
hoarseness
increased hunger
increased thirst
increased urination
itching, scaling, severe redness, soreness, or swelling of the skin
joint pain
loss of appetite
muscle aches and pains
nervousness
noisy breathing
pain or tenderness around the eyes and cheekbones
pounding in the ears
shivering
skin rash, encrusted, scaly and oozing
slow or fast heartbeat
sore mouth, tongue, or throat
stomach pain
sweating
swelling
trouble with sleeping
unexplained weight loss
unusual tiredness or weakness
vomiting
white patches in the mouth or on the tongue
Incidence not known
Choking or feeling of choking
difficulty swallowing
extra heartbeat
fainting
fast, pounding, or irregular heartbeat or pulse
hives or welts
mouth irritation
puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue
slow heartbeat
Get emergency help immediately if any of the following symptoms of overdose occur:
Symptoms of overdose
Arm, back, or jaw pain
confusion
dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up suddenly from a lying or sitting position
fainting
fast, slow, pounding, or irregular heartbeat or pulse
seizures
shakiness in the legs, arms, hands, or feet
trembling or shaking of the hands or feet
Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
Less common
belching
bone pain
burning, dry, or itching eyes
difficulty with moving
discharge or excessive tearing
eye redness, irritation, or pain
headache, severe and throbbing
indigestion
mouth or tooth pain
muscle cramps, spasm, stiffness, or tightness
redness of the skin
redness, pain, or swelling of the eye, eyelid, or inner lining of the eyelid
stomach discomfort or upset
Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Get your GoodRx coupon
$547.99
GoodRx discount
$419.70
Pros and cons of Serevent Diskus (salmeterol)
Pros
- Works well to improve breathing in people with asthma, COPD, and prevention of exercise-induced asthma
- Can be used in children as young as 4 years old for asthma and exercise-induced asthma
Cons
- Doesn't replace your rescue inhaler because it doesn't treat sudden trouble breathing
- Not a good choice for people with a severe milk protein or lactose allergy
Pharmacist tips for Serevent Diskus (salmeterol)
- If you have sudden trouble breathing, use your rescue inhaler (e.g., albuterol (Ventolin)). Serevent Diskus (salmeterol) won't work quickly enough to help you breathe.
- Call your pulmonologist if your breathing worsens or if you're using your rescue inhaler more often than usual. These could be signs that your Serevent Diskus (salmeterol) isn't working well to control your symptoms and you might need more medical attention. Your care team can talk with you about next-steps.
- Keep new Serevent Diskus (salmeterol) inhalers sealed in the foil pouch. Once opened, the inhaler is good for 6 weeks. Write the "pouch opened" date and 6-week expiration ("use by") date on the inhaler. Throw away the inhaler by this date, even if there's still medication leftover. Store opened Serevent Diskus (salmeterol) inhalers at room temperature in a dry place away from heat or sunlight.
How to use Serevent Diskus (salmeterol):
- There's a dose counter on the front face of Serevent Diskus (salmeterol) inhaler. It should say "60" for a new inhaler. Use this counter to keep track of when you need to get a refill.
- You don't need to prime or shake the Serevent Diskus (salmeterol) inhaler before using it.
- When you're ready to take your dose, slide the lever on Serevent Diskus (salmeterol) until it clicks and hold in a flat position, like a hamburger.
- First, breathe out as long as you can. Then, place your lips firmly around the Serevent Diskus (salmeterol) mouthpiece and take a fast and deep breath. Try to hold your breath for up to 10 seconds or for as long as you comfortably can so that the medication can reach deep into your lungs.
- Don't wash the Serevent Diskus (salmeterol) inhaler. Clean the mouthpiece every once in a while by wiping it with a dry cloth. Just make sure you don't get water or moisture on or near the inhaler. Moisture can make the dry powder medication clump together and clog the inhaler.
Risks and warnings for Serevent Diskus (salmeterol)
Serevent Diskus (salmeterol) can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Not to be used alone in people with asthma
If you have asthma, you must also use a steroid inhaler with Serevent Diskus (salmeterol). Research suggests using a LABA, like Serevent Diskus (salmeterol), alone (without a steroid inhaler) raises the risk of death or hospitalization in people with asthma. This isn't the case for people with COPD or with exercise-induced bronchospasm but no persistent asthma.
Talk to your prescriber if you're concerned about using multiple inhalers or are having trouble remembering to take your doses. They might consider switching you to a LABA/steroid combination inhaler. Combination inhalers are preferred for children and adolescents with asthma.
Narrowing of your airways (bronchospasm)
Inhaled medications, including Serevent Diskus (salmeterol), can sometimes cause a muscle spasm in your lungs (bronchospasm). This can lead to difficulty breathing, wheezing, cough, and chest discomfort. If you have a hard time breathing after inhaling Serevent Diskus (salmeterol), use your rescue inhaler and get medical attention right away.
Serious allergic reactions
- Risk factors: Allergy to milk proteins (lactose)
Allergic reactions to Serevent Diskus (salmeterol) are possible, including life-threatening reactions like facial swelling, shock, and anaphylaxis (closing of the throat). Get medical attention right away if you notice hives, rash, red skin, swelling of the lips or tongue, or difficulty breathing after using Serevent Diskus (salmeterol).
Not for use for sudden trouble breathing
Don't use Serevent Diskus (salmeterol) if you're experiencing sudden trouble breathing because this medication won't provide immediate relief. Use a rescue inhaler, such as albuterol (Ventolin HFA), if you have breathing problems.
If you're using your rescue inhaler more often than usual, let your prescriber know because this could be a sign that your condition is getting worse. Don't use more doses Serevent Diskus (salmeterol) than recommended because this won't improve your breathing. Rather, this can raise your risk for serious side effects, such as heart problems, tremors, and dizziness.
Heart problems
- Risk factors: High blood pressure | Heart failure | Heart rate or rhythm problems | Using more Serevent Diskus (salmeterol) than recommended
Serevent Diskus (salmeterol) can potentially raise your blood pressure and heart rate, as well as cause changes in heart rhythm. But these side effects are typically unlikely to happen if you're taking the recommended dose of Serevent Diskus (salmeterol). Your healthcare team might ask you to check your blood pressure and heart rate regularly at home if you have high blood pressure or other heart problems. Don't use Serevent Diskus (salmeterol) more often than recommended because doing so raises the risk for heart problems. If you find that you need to use Serevent Diskus (salmeterol) more often, let your care team know so they can see if you need any changes to your treatment plan. Tell your care team if you have dizziness, fatigue, tremor, rapid heartbeat, or weakness after you use Serevent Diskus (salmeterol).
Before you start Serevent Diskus (salmeterol), your healthcare team will also help you check for medication interactions. You're not recommended to take certain medications, like ritonavir (Norvir) or clarithromycin, with this inhaler. Doing so can raise your risk of heart-related side effects.
Low potassium levels in the blood
- Risk factors: Taking too much Serevent Diskus (salmeterol)
Beta agonists, like Serevent Diskus (salmeterol), can sometimes cause the potassium levels in your blood to drop too low and lead to symptoms like tiredness and muscle cramps. People who took Serevent Diskus (salmeterol) in clinical studies didn't experience this side effect, but it's important to be aware of the symptoms.
Serevent Diskus (salmeterol) dosage
The average cost for 1 diskus inhaler of 60 blisters of 50mcg of Serevent Diskus (salmeterol) is $419.70 with a free GoodRx coupon. This is 23.41% off the average retail price of $547.99. 
Diskus inhaler
Diskus inhaler| Dosage | Quantity | Price as low as | Price per unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60 blisters of 50mcg | 1 diskus inhaler | $419.70 | $419.70 |
Typical dosage for Serevent Diskus (salmeterol)
Each inhalation of Serevent Diskus delivers 50 mcg of salmeterol.
Prevention of exercise-induced bronchospasm
- Adults and children ages 4 years and older: The typical dose is 1 inhalation through the mouth at least 30 minutes before you exercise. If you need a second dose, wait at least 12 hours after the first dose before you take the second dose. If you have persistent asthma, your healthcare team will also prescribe an inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) for you to use along with Serevent Diskus.
Asthma
- Adults and children ages 4 years and older: The typical dose is 1 inhalation through the mouth twice daily, 12 hours apart. This medication is prescribed along with an ICS.
COPD
- Adults: The typical dose is 1 inhalation through the mouth twice daily, 12 hours apart.
Interactions between Serevent Diskus (salmeterol) and other drugs
Serevent Diskus (salmeterol) may interact with certain medications or supplements. Always let your doctor and pharmacist know about any other medications or supplements (including prescribed and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and dietary or herbal supplements) that you are currently taking. The list below does not include all possible drug interactions with Serevent Diskus (salmeterol). Please note that only the generic name of each medication is listed below.
Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
- Abametapir
- Acebutolol
- Arotinolol
- Atenolol
- Befunolol
- Betaxolol
- Bevantolol
- Bisoprolol
- Boceprevir
- Bopindolol
- Bucindolol
- Bupranolol
- Carteolol
- Carvedilol
- Celiprolol
- Ceritinib
- Clarithromycin
- Cobicistat
- Conivaptan
- Dasabuvir
- Dilevalol
- Esmolol
- Fosnetupitant
- Idelalisib
- Indinavir
- Itraconazole
- Ketoconazole
- Labetalol
- Landiolol
- Levobunolol
- Lopinavir
- Mepindolol
- Methacholine
- Metipranolol
- Metoprolol
- Nadolol
- Nebivolol
- Nefazodone
- Nelfinavir
- Netupitant
- Nilotinib
- Ombitasvir
- Oxprenolol
- Paritaprevir
- Penbutolol
- Pindolol
- Posaconazole
- Practolol
- Propranolol
- Ritonavir
- Saquinavir
- Sotalol
- Talinolol
- Telaprevir
- Telithromycin
- Tertatolol
- Timolol
- Voriconazole
How much does Serevent Diskus (salmeterol) cost?
To access savings, use a GoodRx coupon and pay just a fraction of the retail price.
Serevent (brand)
$419.70
Serevent Diskus (salmeterol) contraindications
Contraindications are specific health conditions or situations in which a person should not take a medication due to safety concerns. If you have any of the following conditions or if any of the following apply to you, let your healthcare provider know because Serevent Diskus (salmeterol) will not be safe for you to take.
- Using without an inhaled corticosteroid in people with asthma
- Currently experiencing sudden trouble breathing from an asthma attack or COPD flare-up
- Severe allergies to lactose or milk proteins
What are alternatives to Serevent Diskus (salmeterol)?
There are a number of medications that your doctor can prescribe in place of Serevent Diskus (salmeterol). Compare a few possible alternatives below.
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