Advair vs. Dulera
See how Advair and Dulera compare on approved uses, dosing, side effects, and cost.
Key Takeaways
Both Advair and Dulera combine an inhaled steroid with a long-acting bronchodilator, but only Advair is FDA-approved for COPD in addition to asthma.
Advair has a generic version (Wixela Inhub) that can lower cost, while Dulera currently has no generic option.
Advair uses a dry-powder Diskus inhaler and Dulera uses a pressurized aerosol inhaler, a difference that can affect technique and personal preference.
Advair vs. Dulera Drug Summary
Advair
Advair pairs an inhaled corticosteroid (fluticasone) with a long-acting bronchodilator (salmeterol), making it an ICS/LABA combination inhaler. It is taken twice daily through a Diskus powder inhaler for long-term asthma control in patients 4 and older, and for COPD maintenance and reducing flare-ups. It is not meant to treat a sudden asthma or COPD attack.
Dulera
Dulera combines an inhaled corticosteroid (mometasone) with a long-acting bronchodilator (formoterol) in one aerosol inhaler, also an ICS/LABA combination. It is used twice daily for long-term asthma control in patients 5 and older but is not FDA-approved for COPD. Like Advair, it is not intended for relieving a sudden breathing attack.
Advair vs. Dulera Side Effects
Advair
Dulera
Advair vs. Dulera Dosage
Advair
Dulera
| STAGE | DOSE | WHEN |
| Starting dose | 100 mcg/50 mcg twice daily | At the start |
| Maximum dose | 500 mcg/50 mcg twice daily | If needed |
| Dose changes | 2 increases | As tolerated |
| STAGE | DOSE | WHEN |
| Starting dose | 2 inhalations 100/5 mcg BID | At the start |
| Maximum dose | 2 inhalations 200/5 mcg BID | If needed |
| Dose changes | 1 increase | As tolerated |
Advair
| STAGE | DOSE | WHEN |
| Starting dose | 100 mcg/50 mcg twice daily | At the start |
| Maximum dose | 500 mcg/50 mcg twice daily | If needed |
| Dose changes | 2 increases | As tolerated |
Dulera
| STAGE | DOSE | WHEN |
| Starting dose | 2 inhalations 100/5 mcg BID | At the start |
| Maximum dose | 2 inhalations 200/5 mcg BID | If needed |
| Dose changes | 1 increase | As tolerated |
Advair vs. Dulera Indications
Advair
Advair is FDA-approved for long-term asthma control in people 4 and older, and for COPD maintenance therapy, including reducing flare-ups in patients with a history of exacerbations. It is not meant for relieving a sudden asthma or COPD attack.
Maintenance asthma treatment (ages 4+)
COPD maintenance for airflow obstruction
Reduces exacerbations in high-risk COPD patients
Not for acute bronchospasm or status asthmaticus
Dulera
Dulera is FDA-approved for long-term asthma control in people 5 and older. It does not carry an FDA approval for COPD, so any use for that condition would be off-label. Like Advair, it is not intended for treating a sudden flare-up.
Maintenance asthma treatment (ages 5+)
Not FDA-approved for COPD
Off-label COPD use occurs but is unapproved
Not for acute bronchospasm relief
Advair vs. Dulera Pros and Cons
Advair
Advair has been on the market longer and now comes in a generic form (Wixela Inhub), which often makes it more affordable. Its FDA approval covers both asthma and COPD, a broader label than Dulera's. Its powder-based Diskus inhaler requires a forceful, fast inhale, which can be harder for some patients to manage well.
Pros
Available as a lower-cost generic (Wixela Inhub)
FDA-approved for COPD as well as asthma
No boxed warning after FDA safety review update
Cons
Dry powder inhaler needs a strong, fast inhale
Contraindicated with severe milk protein allergy
Only available as a dry powder, no aerosol option
Dulera
Dulera pairs mometasone with formoterol in an aerosol inhaler, a different delivery method than Advair's dry powder. It is approved only for asthma, not COPD, and its FDA label still carries a boxed warning about LABA-related risk of asthma death. It also has no generic option, unlike Advair.
Pros
Aerosol inhaler may suit those who struggle with dry powder technique
Simpler two-strength dosing lineup
No milk-protein allergy contraindication like Advair
Cons
Not FDA-approved for COPD, only asthma
No generic version currently available
Still carries boxed warning for LABA-related asthma death risk
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