Comprehensive medication guide to Breztri Aerosphere including estimated pricing, availability information, side effects, and how to find it in stock at your local pharmacy.
Estimated Insurance Pricing
$0–$200 copay depending on plan and tier; most plans require prior authorization and step therapy documentation. Commercially insured patients may qualify for AstraZeneca's Zero Pay program and pay as little as $0 per fill.
Estimated Cash Pricing
$670–$930 retail for a 30-day inhaler without insurance; as low as $572–$674 with a SingleCare or GoodRx coupon. No generic available — all supply is brand-name from AstraZeneca.
Medfinder Findability Score
65/100
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Breztri Aerosphere is a prescription triple-combination inhaler made by AstraZeneca that combines three medications — budesonide (an inhaled corticosteroid/ICS), glycopyrrolate (a long-acting muscarinic antagonist/LAMA), and formoterol fumarate (a long-acting beta2-adrenergic agonist/LABA) — in a single pressurized metered-dose inhaler.
First approved by the FDA in July 2020 for the maintenance treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in adults, Breztri received a second FDA approval in April 2026 as the first single-inhaler triple-combination therapy for asthma in patients aged 12 and older. It has been prescribed to more than 6.8 million patients globally.
Breztri is taken as 2 inhalations twice daily (morning and evening) and is not a rescue inhaler — patients still need a separate short-acting beta2-agonist (such as albuterol) for acute symptoms.
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Breztri's three active ingredients target three different pathways that cause obstructive airway disease. Budesonide is a potent inhaled corticosteroid that binds to glucocorticoid receptors in airway cells, suppressing the production of inflammatory chemicals and reducing the activity of immune cells that drive airway swelling. This addresses the underlying inflammation that worsens COPD and asthma over time.
Glycopyrrolate is a long-acting muscarinic antagonist that blocks acetylcholine receptors on airway smooth muscle. The parasympathetic nervous system releases acetylcholine to trigger airway muscle contraction; by blocking these receptors, glycopyrrolate prevents this nervous-system-driven bronchoconstriction. Its bronchodilating effect begins within 2–6 minutes of inhalation and lasts up to 12 hours.
Formoterol fumarate is a rapid-acting long-acting beta2-agonist that activates beta2-adrenergic receptors on airway smooth muscle, increasing intracellular cyclic AMP and causing muscle relaxation. It begins improving lung function within 5 minutes of the first dose. Together, these three complementary mechanisms reduced moderate-to-severe COPD exacerbations by 24% versus LAMA/LABA alone in the pivotal ETHOS trial.
160 mcg/9 mcg/4.8 mcg — inhalation aerosol (metered-dose inhaler)
Standard dose: 2 inhalations twice daily (morning and evening). Total daily dose: 320 mcg budesonide / 18 mcg glycopyrrolate / 9.6 mcg formoterol fumarate. Available in 28-inhalation (starter) or 120-inhalation (30-day supply) canisters.
Breztri Aerosphere is not on the FDA's official drug shortage list in 2026. However, many patients report difficulty filling their prescription due to several compounding factors: no generic equivalent (AstraZeneca is the sole global supplier), surging demand following the April 2026 asthma approval, prior authorization requirements from most insurers, and a high retail cash price of $670–$930 per inhaler.
Availability varies significantly by pharmacy and even by location within the same chain. Large retail pharmacies in areas with fewer COPD patients may stock minimal Breztri, while independent or specialty pharmacies may have it readily available. Mail-order pharmacy (90-day supply through insurance) typically offers the most consistent access.
The fastest way to locate Breztri in stock near you is to use medfinder, which calls pharmacies near you to check availability and texts you the results — saving you hours of phone calls.
Breztri Aerosphere is not a controlled substance and requires no special DEA registration to prescribe. Any licensed prescriber with authority to write for Schedule VI (non-scheduled) prescription medications can prescribe it. Prescribers who commonly write for Breztri include:
Pulmonologists (lung specialists) — primary prescribers for COPD and complex asthma cases
Allergists and Immunologists — frequently prescribe for moderate-to-severe asthma step-up therapy
Primary Care Physicians and Internal Medicine Doctors — manage ongoing COPD and asthma maintenance
Geriatricians — manage Breztri in elderly patients with COPD on fixed incomes
Nurse Practitioners (NPs) and Physician Assistants (PAs) — can prescribe in most states with full prescriptive authority
Telehealth prescribing is available for Breztri through several platforms. Patients with established COPD or asthma diagnoses can typically receive Breztri prescriptions via telehealth, though new diagnoses typically require in-person spirometry for confirmation.
No. Breztri Aerosphere is not a DEA-scheduled controlled substance. It is a prescription-only medication, but it has no abuse or dependence potential and is not subject to the refill restrictions, prescription quantity limits, or early refill rules that apply to Schedule II–V controlled substances.
This means any licensed prescriber — including primary care physicians, pulmonologists, allergists, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants — can prescribe Breztri without special DEA registration. Prescriptions may include refills, and patients can typically receive a 90-day supply through mail-order pharmacy programs without restriction.
The most common side effects reported in clinical trials include:
Upper respiratory tract infections (nasopharyngitis, sinusitis)
Oral thrush (oropharyngeal candidiasis) — prevent by rinsing mouth with water and spitting after every dose
Back pain
Hypertension (elevated blood pressure)
Tremor or shakiness (usually mild, from formoterol)
Pneumonia (especially in COPD patients — call doctor for fever, increased cough, or worsening breathing)
Paradoxical bronchospasm (immediate worsening of breathing after inhalation — stop and seek emergency care)
Serious cardiac arrhythmias or cardiovascular effects (chest pain, fast or irregular heartbeat)
Urinary retention (new difficulty urinating, especially in men with prostate conditions)
Glaucoma or worsening eye problems with long-term use
Anaphylaxis or severe allergic reactions (call 911 immediately)
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Trelegy Ellipta (fluticasone/umeclidinium/vilanterol)
The only other FDA-approved fixed-dose triple-combination inhaler. Once-daily dry powder inhaler. Approved for COPD and asthma. Different active ingredients; once-daily dosing may improve adherence.
Symbicort (budesonide/formoterol) — generic available
Dual ICS/LABA inhaler. Contains two of Breztri's three ingredients. Generic available at significantly lower cost ($50–$150/month). May be combined with a LAMA inhaler to replicate triple therapy.
Anoro Ellipta (umeclidinium/vilanterol)
Dual LAMA/LABA inhaler. Once daily. No ICS component. May be appropriate for patients who need to eliminate the corticosteroid. Not triple therapy.
Stiolto Respimat (tiotropium/olodaterol)
Dual LAMA/LABA soft-mist inhaler. Once daily. No ICS. Easier coordination for patients with grip or coordination difficulties. May be combined with an ICS inhaler for triple therapy.
Prefer Breztri Aerosphere? We can find it.
Other LABA-containing inhalers (salmeterol, formoterol, vilanterol)
majorConcurrent use creates LABA overdose risk — dangerous cardiac arrhythmias, excessive heart rate and blood pressure elevation.
Other anticholinergic inhalers (tiotropium, umeclidinium, aclidinium)
majorAdditive anticholinergic effects — increased risk of urinary retention, dry mouth, blurred vision, acute angle-closure glaucoma.
MAOIs (phenelzine, tranylcypromine, selegiline)
majorPotentiates formoterol cardiovascular effects. Do not use within 14 days of an MAOI.
Beta-blockers (metoprolol, atenolol, propranolol, carvedilol)
moderateBlock bronchodilating effect of formoterol; may trigger bronchospasm in COPD/asthma patients.
Strong CYP3A4 inhibitors (ketoconazole, ritonavir, clarithromycin, itraconazole)
moderateInhibit budesonide metabolism, increasing systemic corticosteroid exposure and risk of adrenal suppression.
Tricyclic antidepressants (amitriptyline, nortriptyline)
moderatePotentiate formoterol cardiovascular effects; may increase heart rate and blood pressure.
Non-potassium-sparing diuretics (furosemide, hydrochlorothiazide)
minorMay worsen hypokalemia induced by formoterol; ECG changes possible.
Breztri Aerosphere is one of the most clinically comprehensive inhaled maintenance therapies available for obstructive airway disease. Its triple-combination approach — targeting inflammation, nervous system bronchoconstriction, and smooth muscle contraction simultaneously — has demonstrated a 24% reduction in COPD exacerbations compared to dual LAMA/LABA therapy in the ETHOS trial. Its April 2026 FDA approval for asthma in patients 12 and older further expands its clinical relevance.
The main challenges patients face with Breztri are cost (retail price of $670–$930/inhaler), prior authorization requirements, and occasionally localized pharmacy stock gaps. AstraZeneca's Zero Pay program addresses cost for commercially insured patients, and the AZ&Me program provides a safety net for Medicare patients and uninsured patients meeting income criteria.
If you're struggling to find Breztri at your pharmacy, use medfinder to locate in-stock pharmacies near you. medfinder calls pharmacies on your behalf and texts you the results — making the search for Breztri faster and less frustrating.
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