The number of generic asthma inhalers has been increasing since 2016 and continues to increase as patents expire.
Controllers
Controllers are long-acting inhalers that often don’t have immediate effects.
They are used on a daily basis at scheduled times to preventasthma symptoms(maintenance therapy).
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Rescue Inhalers
Rescue inhalers are used to stop symptoms once they occur.
They work by opening the lung airways quickly, usually without long-lasting effects.
This is called Single Maintenance And Reliever Therapy (SMART).
An example of this is Symbicort (budesonide/formoterol).
Not everyone on this medication is prescribed to take it as both a controller and a rescue medication.
Nebulizers
Anebulizeris a machine that can be used to administer asthma medication quickly.
It is often used in the hospital for treating an asthma attack.
There are also nebulizers for home use.
it’s possible for you to’t place medication from your asthma inhaler into your nebulizer.
Safety and Effectiveness
Generic medications have the same active ingredients as the brand name versions.
Furthermore, some combination inhalers are not available as generics.
For example, perhaps one inhaler design is easier for you to use than another.
Note that packaging for each version may also differ.
Be careful to avoid mixing them up if your healthcare provider switches your prescription from one to the other.
You might also have to pay a higher co-pay for a brand drug than you would for a generic.
Some insurers require that pharmacists default to the generic unless otherwise noted.
A Word From Verywell
You might be using several asthma medications to prevent and alleviate your symptoms.
