Asthma Inhaler Switch Will Affect Millions Beginning in January

The asthma inhaler Flovent, made by GSK, will disappear from pharmacy shelves beginning in January. A generic version will replace Flovent. However, doctors have expressed concern that patients who rely on the medication may experience delays in switching to other medical alternatives and getting them covered by insurance as the new year begins.

The potential for disruption in care is causing distress among users of the drug. However, physicians who treat patients with asthma say the authorized generic will work just as well as the branded drug.

Thank you @megtirrell and @CNN for putting #asthma and the #Flovent discontinuation in the spotlight 🙏 https://t.co/mN5fJcgRT3

— Robyn Cohen MD,MPH (@RobynCohenMD) December 28, 2023

The primary issue concerning users of the drug is that the generic version may be covered less widely than Flovent. CNN quoted Dr. Robyn Cohen, a pediatric pulmonologist at Boston Medical Center, who calls Flovent the go-to drug when treating those with asthma.

“This medication has been the most commonly used inhaled medication for the past 25 or 30 years,” said Cohen. “It’s the one that, overwhelmingly, pediatricians reach for when they decide that their patient needs a daily preventive medication. The fact that it’s being discontinued is going to be a huge shock to the system for patients, for families and for doctors.”

A spokeswoman for GSK said the company introduced generics of Flovent HFA, an inhalation aerosol, in May 2022 and Flovent Diskus, an inhalation powder, in October 2023. Plans to phase out the branded versions of certain inhalers begin Jan. 1, 2024.

The spokeswoman said that the authorized generics “will provide patients in the US with potentially lower cost alternatives of these medically important products.” A provision in the 2021 American Rescue Plan states that starting Jan. 1, 2024, drugs that have been subject to significant price increases over time could end up incurring rebates to Medicaid that are greater than their price. Doctors are urging patients to get new prescriptions if needed and sort out coverage issues as soon as possible.