Widely-used inhaler medication to be discontinued, doctors urging patients to act fast for replacement

At the start of the new year, and in the thick of respiratory virus season, there’s a new concern for people with asthma.The inhaler medication that’s been widely used for decades has been discontinued. Now, pharmacists and medical providers are urging asthma patients to act fast.A drug that thousands of asthma patients depend on to help them breathe will be gone from pharmacy shelves. For weeks, doctors have been sounding the alarm for people who use Flovent to prepare for the change.Doctors say patients should get new prescriptions, if needed, as soon as possible, because they may have delays switching to alternatives and short out coverage issues.While doctors say the authorized generic version will work just as well as the banned drug, it’s not as widely covered by insurers.Some asthma patients could have to get new prescriptions and work out coverage hurdles in the thick of respiratory virus season. In a statement to WLWT, the president of Day’s Pharmacy on the West Side, Kevin Day, says, in part:”There shouldn’t be much impact on patients. Insurance companies that have been forcing people to get brand name have known for months that this change is coming so they should, emphasis on should, be ready and have formularies updated so people can seamlessly switch to the generic.”Some patients may have to change the inhaler they use to one of the others in the class that are similar and preferred by their insurance, or they could choose to buy the generic directly from a pay pharmacy, like ours,” Day’s statement continued.One authorized generic version that will take the place of Flovent is produced by a Cincinnati-based company, named Prasco.Industry insiders say GSK is discontinuing Flovent as a cost-saving measure involving Medicaid.

At the start of the new year, and in the thick of respiratory virus season, there’s a new concern for people with asthma.

The inhaler medication that’s been widely used for decades has been discontinued. Now, pharmacists and medical providers are urging asthma patients to act fast.

A drug that thousands of asthma patients depend on to help them breathe will be gone from pharmacy shelves. For weeks, doctors have been sounding the alarm for people who use Flovent to prepare for the change.

Doctors say patients should get new prescriptions, if needed, as soon as possible, because they may have delays switching to alternatives and short out coverage issues.

While doctors say the authorized generic version will work just as well as the banned drug, it’s not as widely covered by insurers.

Some asthma patients could have to get new prescriptions and work out coverage hurdles in the thick of respiratory virus season.

In a statement to WLWT, the president of Day’s Pharmacy on the West Side, Kevin Day, says, in part:

“There shouldn’t be much impact on patients. Insurance companies that have been forcing people to get brand name have known for months that this change is coming so they should, emphasis on should, be ready and have formularies updated so people can seamlessly switch to the generic.

“Some patients may have to change the inhaler they use to one of the others in the class that are similar and preferred by their insurance, or they could choose to buy the generic directly from a pay pharmacy, like ours,” Day’s statement continued.

One authorized generic version that will take the place of Flovent is produced by a Cincinnati-based company, named Prasco.

Industry insiders say GSK is discontinuing Flovent as a cost-saving measure involving Medicaid.

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