When Your Inhaler Isn't Available, You Still Have Options

If you've been told your pharmacy is out of Budesonide/Formoterol — whether brand-name Symbicort or the generic — it's natural to feel worried. This is a medication you depend on to manage your asthma or COPD, and going without it isn't something you want to do.

The good news is that Budesonide/Formoterol isn't the only ICS/LABA combination inhaler on the market. Several proven alternatives use similar mechanisms to control your symptoms. With your doctor's help, switching to one of these medications can keep you protected until your regular prescription is available again — or it might even turn out to be a better long-term fit.

Before exploring alternatives, you may also want to try finding Budesonide/Formoterol in stock at a different pharmacy using tools like Medfinder.

What Is Budesonide/Formoterol and How Does It Work?

Understanding how Budesonide/Formoterol works makes it easier to see why certain alternatives are good substitutes.

Budesonide/Formoterol is a combination inhaler containing two active ingredients:

• Budesonide is an inhaled corticosteroid (ICS). It reduces inflammation and swelling inside your airways, addressing the root cause of asthma and COPD symptoms.
• Formoterol is a long-acting beta2-agonist (LABA). It relaxes the smooth muscles around your airways, keeping them open for up to 12 hours.

By combining both an anti-inflammatory and a bronchodilator in a single inhaler, Budesonide/Formoterol provides comprehensive, twice-daily maintenance therapy. It's approved for asthma in patients aged 6 and older, and for COPD in adults.

Any good alternative will also combine an ICS and a LABA — just with different specific drugs. Here's what's available.

Alternative #1: Advair / Wixela Inhub (Fluticasone/Salmeterol)

Advair is one of the most well-known ICS/LABA inhalers on the market. It combines Fluticasone (an ICS) with Salmeterol (a LABA).

• Available forms: Advair Diskus (dry powder inhaler) and Advair HFA (metered-dose inhaler)
• Dosing: One inhalation twice daily
• Approved for: Asthma (age 4+) and COPD
• Generic available: Yes — Wixela Inhub is the generic version of Advair Diskus and is typically cheaper and easier to find
• Key differences: Salmeterol has a slower onset of action than Formoterol. Advair comes as a dry powder inhaler (Diskus), which some patients find easier to use than an MDI. Wixela Inhub is often priced at $150–$250 with discount cards.

Advair/Wixela is often the first alternative doctors consider when Budesonide/Formoterol is unavailable. The generic Wixela Inhub is widely stocked.

Alternative #2: Breo Ellipta (Fluticasone Furoate/Vilanterol)

Breo Ellipta is a newer ICS/LABA option with one major advantage: once-daily dosing.

• Available forms: Dry powder inhaler (Ellipta device)
• Dosing: One inhalation once daily
• Approved for: Asthma (age 18+) and COPD
• Generic available: Not yet — brand only
• Key differences: Only needs to be taken once a day instead of twice, which is more convenient for many patients. The Ellipta device is simple to use. However, it's brand-only and typically costs more — around $350–$450 without insurance. It's approved for adults only (not children).

Breo Ellipta is an excellent choice if you often forget your evening dose or prefer a simpler routine.

Alternative #3: Dulera (Mometasone/Formoterol)

Dulera combines Mometasone (an ICS) with Formoterol (the same LABA in Budesonide/Formoterol).

• Available forms: Metered-dose inhaler (MDI)
• Dosing: Two inhalations twice daily
• Approved for: Asthma (age 5+)
• Generic available: Not yet — brand only
• Key differences: Because Dulera contains the same LABA (Formoterol), the bronchodilator component works identically. The ICS (Mometasone vs. Budesonide) differs slightly in potency but both effectively control airway inflammation. Dulera is not approved for COPD — only asthma. Cash price is typically $350–$500.

If you respond well to Formoterol specifically and want to keep that component the same, Dulera is a logical choice for asthma patients.

Alternative #4: Breztri Aerosphere (Budesonide/Glycopyrrolate/Formoterol) — For COPD

If you use Budesonide/Formoterol for COPD rather than asthma, Breztri Aerosphere is worth discussing with your doctor.

• Available forms: Metered-dose inhaler (MDI)
• Dosing: Two inhalations twice daily
• Approved for: COPD only (not asthma)
• Key differences: Breztri is a triple therapy inhaler — it contains Budesonide and Formoterol (just like Symbicort) plus Glycopyrrolate, a long-acting muscarinic antagonist (LAMA) that provides additional bronchodilation through a different mechanism. It may offer better COPD control than a dual-therapy inhaler alone.

For COPD patients who need more than what Budesonide/Formoterol provides, stepping up to triple therapy can be a significant improvement.

How to Talk to Your Doctor About Switching

Don't switch inhalers on your own — always consult your prescriber. Here's how to have a productive conversation:

1. Explain the supply issue: Let them know your pharmacy is out of Budesonide/Formoterol and approximately how long you've been without it.
2. Ask about the alternatives above: Mention Advair/Wixela, Breo Ellipta, and Dulera by name so your doctor knows you've done your research.
3. Discuss insurance coverage: Some alternatives may be preferred on your insurance formulary, making them cheaper. Your doctor or pharmacist can check.
4. Ask if the switch is temporary or permanent: In some cases, you may find that an alternative works better (or is cheaper) than what you were on before.

Your doctor can also e-prescribe to a pharmacy that has the medication in stock if you'd rather stay on Budesonide/Formoterol.

Final Thoughts

Not being able to fill your Budesonide/Formoterol prescription is stressful, but you have options. Advair, Breo Ellipta, Dulera, and Breztri all use similar mechanisms to control asthma and COPD symptoms. Your doctor can help you pick the best fit based on your condition, insurance, and preferences.

In the meantime, try searching Medfinder to see if any pharmacy near you has your original prescription in stock — you might find it closer than you think.

Find Budesonide/Formoterol in stock near you →