INHALED CONTROLLER MEDICATIONS Medication Name Medication Class Recommendation Doses-Strengths ♦Pricing Comments Aerobid (flunisolide) CFC $88.38/250mcg
No shaking required; 3 primes to start and reprime after
Alvesco (ciclesonide) HFA
Inhaled Corticosteroid (ICS) 12 and older
$155.98/160 mcg
10 days without use. Dose indicator in increments of 10
$105.99/110mcg $130.06/220mcg
Breath actuated device with dose counter; may be given
Asmanex (mometasone) DPI*
Inhaled Corticosteroid (ICS) 4-11, 12 and older
$140.91/60 metered doses
once daily in PM (110 dose FDA approved for 4-11 yrs)
$186.43/120 metered doses
Shake 5 sec.; 2 primes to start; reprime after 3 days
Azmacort (triamcinolone) HFA $152.36/75mcg
Diskus device like Advair, but without serevent; comes in
Flovent (fluticasone) DPI* $99.75/50mcg
only one strengthShake 5 sec.; 4 primes to start; after 7 days without use,
44mcg, 110mcg, 220mcg per $100.74/44mcg
or if dropped, reprime once; Inhaler, often used with
Flovent (fluticasone) HFA $131.73/110mcg
spacer (44-88mcg BID FDA approved for 4-11 yrs); has
$214.24/220mcg Pulmicort (budesonide) DPI* $103.84/90mcg
New Flexhaler (breath actuated device); has dose counter;
Flexhaler $137.65/180mcg
twist to prime in upright position; two primes to start
$191.12/0.25mg
Deliver with closed system mask if < 3 yrs; mask with
Pulmicort (budesonide) Respules Inhaled Corticosteroid (ICS) 8 years of age $224.76/0.5mg
Does not require shaking; 2 primes to start, reprime after
40mcg or 80mcg per actuation $75.59/40mcg QVAR (beclomethasone) HFA
10 days. Inhaler, recommended to be used without spacer
$92.87/80mcg $175.99/100-50mcg Advair (fluticasone and
No priming; don't tip once loaded; twice daily dosage (only
$209.98/250-50mcg salmeterol) DPI* $271.97/500-50mcg
45/21mcg,115/21, 230/21 per $178.76/45-21mcg Advair (fluticasone and
Shake 5 sec.; 4 primes to start; if dropped, or 4 weeks
$208.95/115-21mcg salmeterol) HFA
without use, 2 test sprays; twice daily dosage
$269.91/230-21mcg Symbicort (budesonide and $171.99/80-4.5mcg
Shake 5 sec.; 2 primes to start, again after 7 days without
formoterol) HFA $202.37/160-4.5mcg Serevent (salmeterol) DPI* $161.30/50mcg Not be used for quick relief or without ICS in asthma Foradil (formoterol) DPI* $161.20/12mcg Not be used for quick relief or without ICS in asthma Brovana (arformoterol) nebulized Long-acting beta2-agonist $56.25/5- 18mcg Spiriva (tiotropium)*
Once daily; should avoid use with Combivent or Duoneb
$197.16/30- 18mcg * Contains lactose INHALED QUICK RELIEF MEDICATIONS Medication Name Medication Class Recommendation Doses-Strengths ♦Pricing Comments AccuNeb (albuterol for $49.13/0.63mg/3ml nebulization) $50.99/1.25mg/3ml
Shake 5 sec.; 4 primes to start; reprime after 4 weeks
Albuterol CFC $15.99/2mg tablets Albuterol Nebulized 0.083% $18.99/0.083% Albuterol Nebulized 0.5% $15.99/0.5%
Shake 5 sec.; 2 primes to start; 2 primes after 2 days
Maxair (pirbuterol) CFC $115.99/200mcg
Shake 5 sec.; 3 primes to start; reprime after 14 days
ProAir (albuterol sulfate) HFA $41.84/90mcg
Shake 5 sec.; 4 primes to start; reprime after 2 weeks
Proventil (albuterol sulfate) HFA $52.02/90mcg
Shake 5 sec.; 4 primes to start; reprime if dropped or after
Ventolin (albuterol sulfate) HFA $37.99/90mcg
Shake 5 sec.; 4 primes to start; 4 primes after 3 days
Xopenex (levalbuterol) HFA $53.84/45mcg $100.11/0.31mg/3ml Xopenex Nebulized (levalbuterol) Short-acting beta2-agonist $102.78/0.63mg/3ml
Unit dose for nebulization; needs no mixing
$101.59/1.25mg/3ml Atrovent (ipratropium) HFA $117.62/17mcg
2 primes to start; 2 primes after 3 days without use
Combivent (ipratropium and $127.03/103-18mcg
Shake 10 sec.; 3 primes to start; 3 primes after 24 hours
albuterol) CFC Duoneb (ipratropium and $40.00/0.5-2.5mg/3ml albuterol)
♦Pricing Source: Prices noted are from April 2009, www.drugstore.com. Actual prices will vary by retail pharmacy and likely change over time. Not all prices for doses listed above are available.
Source: medication package insertThis document is intended to comprise most frequently used medication in the MaineHealth system.
An interview with Anne Gripper Part 1, August 1, 2007 Getting a grip on doping The past year has seen an acceleration in the fight against the use of performance-enhancing substances, with the Operación Puerto and the Floyd Landis cases acting as a major catalyst. Australian Anne Gripper has been involved in co-ordinating the UCI's anti-doping measures and talked to Cycling