Here are the most commonly prescribed maintenance medication for Asthma that is covered by many insurance :
FLOVENT (FLUTICASONE PROPIONATE)
Flovent comes in 44mcg, 110mcg & 220mcg Metered Dose Inhaler and Diskus dry powder 50mcg, 100mcg and 250mcg
Flovent is a corticosteroid, it is a natural substance that can be found in the body that fights inflammation and are used to treat asthma by way of reducing the airway inflammation. Flovent prevents symptoms of asthma, it can not be used for acute asthma attack.
Dose: Recommended dose is 88mcg twice daily for adults and adolescents >12 years old. maximum of 440 mcg twice daily. It is very important to rinse mouth after each use to avoid fungal infection of the mouth.
Possible Side Effects: headache, cold, sinus infection, throat irritation, thrush and upper respiratory infection.
ADVAIR: (Fluticasone Propionate &Xinafoate)
Advair comes in 100/50, 250/50, 500/50 mcg metered dose inhaler powder and 45/21, 115/21, 230/21 mg Aerosol
Advair is used as a maintenance to prevent asthma and other symptoms of COPD
Dose: Adults and Peds > 12 years old 1 puffs every 12 hours Always wash mouth after each use to prevent mouth infection.
Possible Side Effects: breathing problems, facial swelling, hives, rash, swelling of the mouth or tongue, eye problems, chest pain, irregular heartbeat, immune system effects and higher chance of infection, increased blood pressure, lower bone mineral density, throat irritation.
DULERA (mometasone/formoterol)
Dulera comes in 100/5 and 200/5 Metered Dose Inhaler It acts as a corticosteroid and Long Acting bronchodilator which helps prevent symptoms of Asthma.
Dose: Adult and Pediatric dose, 2 puffs every 12 hours
Possible side effect: nasal, sinus and throat irritation, headache.
QVAR (Beclomethasone)
QVAR comes in 40mcg and 80mcg metered dose inhaler it acts as an inhaled corticosteroid.
Dose: Adults and Peds 5 to 11 years old 1 to 4 puffs twice daily; initial 40 to 80 mcg twice daily max of 320mcg twice daily. taper to the lowest effective dose, rinse mouth after each use.
Possible side effects: in clinical trials headache and sore throat are the most common
SINGULAIR (montelukast)
Singulair comes in 4 mg & 5mg chewable and 10 mg tablet, 4mg granule pack.
Singulair can prevent chronic asthma, seasonal allergic rhinitis, perennial allergic rhinitis and prevent exercise induced bronchoconstriction. It acts as a leukotrine receptor antagonist.
Dose: Adults and Peds >15ys 10mg daily, 6 to 23 months 4mg pack granules daily for 2 to 5 yrs old 4mg per day in the evening and 6 to 14 yrs old 5mg daily in the evening
Possible Side Effects include dizziness, fatigue, rash GI upset, flu, cough, neuropsych events, flu
PROVENTIL HFA: GENERIC NAME: ALBUTEROL
is indicated to treat and prevent shortness of breath, wheezing and other breathing problems caused by asthma in children 4 years, adults and older. It is used for the treatment and prevention of bronchospasm with reversible obstructive airway disease and for the prevention of exercise-induced bronchospasm
Dose:usual dose is 2 puffs by mouth every 4 to 6 hours as needed and for adults and children >4 years for exercise induced asthma, 2 puffs 15 to 30 minutes prior to exercise.
Side Effects include: dizziness, headaches, dry mouth, hives, nausea, rash, nervousness, swelling of the mouth and throat, tremors, inflammation of the air passages within the lungs.
Covered by Medi-Cal but may need prior authorization by other insurance providers
VENTOLIN HFA: GENERIC NAME: ALBUTEROL
is a rescue inhaler that helps to open the airways in the lungs immediately, it is a fast-acting bronchodilator which can help the patient breathe easily. Recommended for children >4 years old and adults with asthma.
Dose: regular dose is 2 puffs every 4 to 8 hours, elderly patients may start a lower dose of ventolin, 2 puffs 15 to 30 minutes prior to exercise is recommended for exercise-induced asthma.
Side Effects Include: irregular or fast heartbeat, chest pain, viral lung infection, shakiness, nervousness, worsening of wheezing, muscle pain, cough, throat irritation.
Covered by Most Insurance
PRO-AIR HFA: GENERIC NAME: ALBUTEROL
is a fast acting bronchodilator, which helps to quickly open the airways in the lungs so that the patient can breathe immediately. It is also used to treat and prevent shortness of breath and wheezing and to prevent asthma caused by exercise.
Dose: regular dose is 2 puffs every 4 to 6 hours for children > 4 years old and adults. For exercise-induced asthma the regular dose is 2 puffs 15 to 30 minutes prior to exercise.
Side Effects Include: rapid heart rate, nervousness, sore throat, headache, tremors, chest pain, dizziness.
Covered by Most Insurance
XOPENEX HFA: GENERIC NAME: LEVALBUTEROL
is used to prevent and treat airways tightness or bronchospasm for children > 4 years and adults with asthma. The way it works relaxes the smooth muscles that surround the airway passages to the lungs to help the patient breath easier.
Dose: for adults and children >4 years old: 2 puffs every 4 to 6 hours, some patient may be prescribed 1 puff every four hours.
Side Effects include weakness, fever, viral infection, headache, muscle pain, sore throat, runny nose, eczema, rash, itching, vomiting, palpitation, chest pain, rapid heartbeat, nervousness.
Needs Prior-Authorization by most insurance providers.
FLOVENT (FLUTICASONE PROPIONATE)
Flovent comes in 44mcg, 110mcg & 220mcg Metered Dose Inhaler and Diskus dry powder 50mcg, 100mcg and 250mcg
Flovent is a corticosteroid, it is a natural substance that can be found in the body that fights inflammation and are used to treat asthma by way of reducing the airway inflammation. Flovent prevents symptoms of asthma, it can not be used for acute asthma attack.
Dose: Recommended dose is 88mcg twice daily for adults and adolescents >12 years old. maximum of 440 mcg twice daily. It is very important to rinse mouth after each use to avoid fungal infection of the mouth.
Possible Side Effects: headache, cold, sinus infection, throat irritation, thrush and upper respiratory infection.
ADVAIR: (Fluticasone Propionate &Xinafoate)
Advair comes in 100/50, 250/50, 500/50 mcg metered dose inhaler powder and 45/21, 115/21, 230/21 mg Aerosol
Advair is used as a maintenance to prevent asthma and other symptoms of COPD
Dose: Adults and Peds > 12 years old 1 puffs every 12 hours Always wash mouth after each use to prevent mouth infection.
Possible Side Effects: breathing problems, facial swelling, hives, rash, swelling of the mouth or tongue, eye problems, chest pain, irregular heartbeat, immune system effects and higher chance of infection, increased blood pressure, lower bone mineral density, throat irritation.
DULERA (mometasone/formoterol)
Dulera comes in 100/5 and 200/5 Metered Dose Inhaler It acts as a corticosteroid and Long Acting bronchodilator which helps prevent symptoms of Asthma.
Dose: Adult and Pediatric dose, 2 puffs every 12 hours
Possible side effect: nasal, sinus and throat irritation, headache.
QVAR (Beclomethasone)
QVAR comes in 40mcg and 80mcg metered dose inhaler it acts as an inhaled corticosteroid.
Dose: Adults and Peds 5 to 11 years old 1 to 4 puffs twice daily; initial 40 to 80 mcg twice daily max of 320mcg twice daily. taper to the lowest effective dose, rinse mouth after each use.
Possible side effects: in clinical trials headache and sore throat are the most common
SINGULAIR (montelukast)
Singulair comes in 4 mg & 5mg chewable and 10 mg tablet, 4mg granule pack.
Singulair can prevent chronic asthma, seasonal allergic rhinitis, perennial allergic rhinitis and prevent exercise induced bronchoconstriction. It acts as a leukotrine receptor antagonist.
Dose: Adults and Peds >15ys 10mg daily, 6 to 23 months 4mg pack granules daily for 2 to 5 yrs old 4mg per day in the evening and 6 to 14 yrs old 5mg daily in the evening
Possible Side Effects include dizziness, fatigue, rash GI upset, flu, cough, neuropsych events, flu
PROVENTIL HFA: GENERIC NAME: ALBUTEROL
is indicated to treat and prevent shortness of breath, wheezing and other breathing problems caused by asthma in children 4 years, adults and older. It is used for the treatment and prevention of bronchospasm with reversible obstructive airway disease and for the prevention of exercise-induced bronchospasm
Dose:usual dose is 2 puffs by mouth every 4 to 6 hours as needed and for adults and children >4 years for exercise induced asthma, 2 puffs 15 to 30 minutes prior to exercise.
Side Effects include: dizziness, headaches, dry mouth, hives, nausea, rash, nervousness, swelling of the mouth and throat, tremors, inflammation of the air passages within the lungs.
Covered by Medi-Cal but may need prior authorization by other insurance providers
VENTOLIN HFA: GENERIC NAME: ALBUTEROL
is a rescue inhaler that helps to open the airways in the lungs immediately, it is a fast-acting bronchodilator which can help the patient breathe easily. Recommended for children >4 years old and adults with asthma.
Dose: regular dose is 2 puffs every 4 to 8 hours, elderly patients may start a lower dose of ventolin, 2 puffs 15 to 30 minutes prior to exercise is recommended for exercise-induced asthma.
Side Effects Include: irregular or fast heartbeat, chest pain, viral lung infection, shakiness, nervousness, worsening of wheezing, muscle pain, cough, throat irritation.
Covered by Most Insurance
PRO-AIR HFA: GENERIC NAME: ALBUTEROL
is a fast acting bronchodilator, which helps to quickly open the airways in the lungs so that the patient can breathe immediately. It is also used to treat and prevent shortness of breath and wheezing and to prevent asthma caused by exercise.
Dose: regular dose is 2 puffs every 4 to 6 hours for children > 4 years old and adults. For exercise-induced asthma the regular dose is 2 puffs 15 to 30 minutes prior to exercise.
Side Effects Include: rapid heart rate, nervousness, sore throat, headache, tremors, chest pain, dizziness.
Covered by Most Insurance
XOPENEX HFA: GENERIC NAME: LEVALBUTEROL
is used to prevent and treat airways tightness or bronchospasm for children > 4 years and adults with asthma. The way it works relaxes the smooth muscles that surround the airway passages to the lungs to help the patient breath easier.
Dose: for adults and children >4 years old: 2 puffs every 4 to 6 hours, some patient may be prescribed 1 puff every four hours.
Side Effects include weakness, fever, viral infection, headache, muscle pain, sore throat, runny nose, eczema, rash, itching, vomiting, palpitation, chest pain, rapid heartbeat, nervousness.
Needs Prior-Authorization by most insurance providers.