Having trouble finding Ciclesonide (Alvesco, Omnaris) at your pharmacy? Learn why this inhaled corticosteroid can be hard to find and what you can do about it.
You went to your pharmacy to pick up your Ciclesonide prescription — whether it's Alvesco for asthma or Omnaris for allergies — and walked out empty-handed. The pharmacist told you it's out of stock or on backorder, and no one seems to know when it's coming back. Sound familiar?
If you rely on Ciclesonide to control your asthma or allergic rhinitis symptoms, not being able to fill your prescription can be stressful and even dangerous. In this post, we'll explain what Ciclesonide is, why it can be so hard to find in 2026, and what steps you can take to get your medication.
Ciclesonide is an inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) used to treat persistent asthma and allergic rhinitis. It's a prodrug, meaning it gets activated inside your body to reduce inflammation in your airways or nasal passages. It's sold under three brand names:
Ciclesonide is valued for its targeted action and lower risk of systemic side effects compared to older corticosteroids. It's manufactured by Covis Pharma, which acquired the rights from AstraZeneca in 2018.
There are several reasons why you might struggle to find Ciclesonide at your local pharmacy in 2026:
Unlike many other inhaled corticosteroids, there is no generic version of Ciclesonide available in the United States. Medications like Fluticasone and Budesonide have generic options that are widely stocked, but Ciclesonide remains brand-only. This means fewer manufacturers produce it, and pharmacies may not keep it in regular stock due to lower demand compared to generics.
All Ciclesonide products — Alvesco, Omnaris, and Zetonna — come from a single manufacturer, Covis Pharma. When you have only one company making a drug, any disruption to their production, shipping, or raw material supply can create availability gaps across the entire country. There's no backup manufacturer to pick up the slack.
Pharmacies stock medications based on demand. Since Ciclesonide is a brand-name-only product with a higher price tag (Alvesco can cost $150 to $420 without insurance), many pharmacies — especially large chains — may not keep it on the shelf unless they have regular customers who fill it. If your pharmacy doesn't routinely dispense Ciclesonide, they may need to special-order it, which can take days.
Many insurance plans prefer cheaper alternatives like Fluticasone (Flovent, Flonase) or Budesonide (Pulmicort, Rhinocort) through step therapy or prior authorization requirements. This means fewer patients end up on Ciclesonide, which further reduces pharmacy stocking. It becomes a cycle: fewer prescriptions mean less stock, which means longer waits when you do need it.
Don't panic — there are real steps you can take to get your medication:
Services like Medfinder let you search for pharmacies near you that have Ciclesonide in stock right now. Instead of calling pharmacy after pharmacy, you can check availability online in seconds.
Independent and compounding pharmacies often have more flexibility in ordering specialty or brand-name medications. They may be able to get Ciclesonide faster than a large chain pharmacy. Call a few local independents and ask if they can order it for you.
If you truly cannot find Ciclesonide, your doctor may be able to switch you to a similar inhaled corticosteroid. Options like Fluticasone Propionate (Flovent for asthma, Flonase for allergies), Budesonide (Pulmicort, Rhinocort), or Mometasone Furoate (Asmanex, Nasonex) work through similar mechanisms. Read more in our post on alternatives to Ciclesonide.
If cost is part of the problem, the Alvesco Savings Card from Covis Pharma can reduce your out-of-pocket cost to as little as $0 for commercially insured patients. Visit alvesco.us/savings-card for details. You can also learn more in our guide on how to save money on Ciclesonide.
If you're running low on Ciclesonide, talk to your doctor before you run out completely. Stopping an inhaled corticosteroid suddenly — especially for asthma — can lead to worsening symptoms or an asthma flare-up. Your doctor can provide a bridge prescription or temporary alternative.
Ciclesonide is an effective and well-tolerated medication for asthma and allergic rhinitis, but its brand-only status and single-manufacturer supply chain can make it tricky to find. The good news is that with the right tools and a little persistence, you can usually locate it — or find a suitable alternative with your doctor's help.
If you're looking for Ciclesonide right now, try Medfinder to check pharmacy availability near you. And for more information about this medication, check out our posts on what Ciclesonide is and how to use it and Ciclesonide side effects.
You focus on staying healthy. We'll handle the rest.
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