Common Inhalers & Alternatives for Adults

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Less Environmentally Preferable More Environmentally Preferable

Asthma Reliever Therapy

Bricanyl Ventolin Symbicort
Ventolin pMDI Airomir pMDI Turbuhaler Diskus Turbuhaler
salbutamol salbutamol terbutaline salbutamol budesonide/
formoterol
MB
Covered SA in BC,AB,
Covered Covered Covered in QC (EM), NB, PE, NL
in all of in all of in all of NB, NS, EDS in SK
Canada PE, NIHB EM in NS, YT, QC
Canada Canada LU NIHB
LU 330 ON
1-2 puffs QID PRN 1-2 puffs QID PRN 1-2 puffs QID PRN 1 puff QID PRN
1 -2 puffs QID PRN
(max 8 puffs/day) (max 8 puffs/day) (max 6 puffs/day) (max 4 puffs/day) (max 8 puffs/day)
100mcg: ~$5/$6 100mcg: ~$6 500mcg: ~$9 200mcg: ~$10 100/6:~$70; 200/6:~90

MDI Low Charge MDI Dry-Powder Inhalers (DPIs)

ICS Maintenance Therapy

Flovent Qvar Alvesco Arnuity Pulmicort Flovent Aermony Asmanex
pMDI pMDI pMDI Ellipta Turbuhaler Diskus Respiclick Twisthaler
fluticasone beclo- ciclesonide fluticasone budesonide fluticasone fluticasone mometasone
methasone furoate propionate propionate
100 mcg
except AB,
MB, ON Covered Covered
Covered Covered Covered Covered Covered except in except in
in all of in all of in all of in all of 250mcg
in all of (SA in AB) NS and YT YT
Canada Canada Canada Canada Canada 500mcg all
of Canada
200- 1200 mcg BID
1-8 puffs BID 1-4 puffs BID 1-4 puffs BID 100- 1000 100- 1000 2 puffs BID
1-2 puffs daily
100mcg: ~$35 mcg BID mcg BID
125mcg: ~$50 50mcg: ~$40 100mcg: ~$50 100mcg: ~$45 200mcg: ~$70 250mcg: ~$50 113mcg: ~$30 200mcg: ~$40
250mcg: ~$100 100mcg: ~$75 200mcg: ~$80 200mcg: ~$85 400mcg: ~$100 500mcg: ~$75 232mcg: ~$50 400mcg: ~$80

Metered Dose Inhalers (MDIs) Dry-Powder Inhalers (DPIs)

ICS/LABA Maintenance Therapy

Zenhale Advair Breo Wixela Advair Symbicort Atectura
pMDI pMDI Ellipta InHub Diskus Turbuhaler Breezhaler
fluticasone fluticasone fluticasone fluticasone fluticasone budesonide/ mometasone/
propionate/ propionate/ furoate/ propionate/ propionate/ formoterol indacaterol
salmeterol salmeterol vilanterol salmeterol salmeterol MB BC, PE,
AB MB MB MB MB MB SA in BC,AB, NL, YT
SA in BC, NB, SA in BC,AB, SA in BC,AB, SA in BC,AB, SA in BC,AB, NB, PE, NL SA in AB, NB
PE, NL NB, PE, NL NB, PE, NL NB, PE, NL NB, PE, NL EDS in SK EDS in SK
EDS in SK EDS in SK EDS in SK EDS in SK EDS in SK EM in NS, YT, QC EM in NS, QC
EM in NS, YT, QC EM in NS, YT, QC EM in NS, YT, QC EM in NS, YT, QC EM in NS, YT, QC LU NIHB LU NIHB
LU NIHB LU NIHB LU NIHB LU NIHB LU NIHB LU 330 ON LU 626 ON
LU 330 ON LU 330 ON LU 330 ON LU 330 ON LU 330 ON
1 puff BID 1 puff BID 1 -2 puffs QID PRN 1 puff BID
1-2 puffs BID 1-2 puffs BID 1 puff daily (max 8 puffs/day)
100/50:~$42 100/50:~$95 80/150:~$50
100/5:~$110 125/25:~$115 100/25:~$95 100/6: ~$70
250/50:~$5 250/50:~$115 160/150:~$61
200/5:~$130 250/25:~$160 200/25:~$145 500/50:~$72 500/50:~$160 200/6: ~$90 320/150:~$76
Metered Dose Inhalers (MDIs) Dry-Powder Inhalers (DPIs)

SA - special authorization; EDS - exception drug status; EM - exception medication; LU - limited use; NIHB - non-insured health benefits
Coverage as of March 2022. All costs based on Ontario Drug Benefit Formulary & excludes dispensing fee as of July 2022. Cost may vary
in other provinces/territories. Adapted from from The C.A.R.E. Project of the Hamilton Family Health Team Green Initiative, developed by
Dr. Meghan Davis. Reference materials developed by Jessica Visentin, Pharmacist, and Brenda Chang, Clinical Pharmacy Practitioner.
This resource does not reflect all available medications and does not include all information. Read product monographs before prescribing.