Learn expert-recommended tips on how to save on your Advair Diskus prescriptions. Also, find where you can buy the lowest-price prescription drugs.


What is Advair Diskus?


Advair Diskus is the brand name of a combination product. It contains two active drugs:

  • Fluticasone - a corticosteroid that reduces airway inflammation.
  • Salmeterol - a long-acting bronchodilator that makes breathing easier.

Advair Diskus is used to treat asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Another form of Advair - Advair HFA - is used to treat asthma. Both forms are available only with a doctor’s prescription.


HFA stands for hydrofluoroalkane, a new type of propellant that carries the drug from the inhaler into the patient's airways. Drug manufacturers started using HFA instead of chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) after the US FDA banned CFC-containing inhalers in 2008. Unlike CFC, HFA does not deplete the ozone layer.


Advair Diskus 100/50 contains 100 mcg fluticasone and 50 mcg salmeterol in one puff. The other strengths include:

  • 250/50, which has 250 mcg fluticasone and 50 mcg salmeterol in one puff.
  • 500/50, which has 500 mcg fluticasone and 50 mcg salmeterol in one puff.

One Advair Diskus inhaler provides 60 puffs. A counter on top of the Diskus tells you the number of unused doses in the device.


Brands vs. Generics: 3 Essential Things to Know


Americans have been using generic versions of brand name drugs since the late 1970’s. Still, many people are concerned if generic drugs actually work. Below are the things to know if you are considering the use of generics.


Further Reading: Branded drugs or Generic drugs: Which one should I choose?


  1. Same FDA requirements

  2. Both brand and generic medications become available only after strict FDA approval. Generic versions must meet the same quality and purity requirements as brands. Moreover, they must have the same strength, dose, method of use, and active drugs as the brand.


    Thus, the difference between generics and brands - in terms of potency, efficacy, and safety - is negligible (if any).


  3. Equivalent safety and efficacy

  4. One large study compared the differences in safety and efficacy between two fluticasone/salmeterol preparations used to treat asthma. The researchers used the brand-name product Seretide and its generic version Fluticort plus. At the end of the study, they found no significant differences between Seretide and Fluticort plus in controlling asthma symptoms.


    Likewise, a team of American researchers, in 2019, concluded that the effects of generics and brands in treating chronic illnesses were comparable.


  5. Price

  6. Despite comparable safety and efficacy, prices of brands and generics differ sharply. For example, in the U.S., the cost of 3 generic inhalers of 250/50mcg is $275 whereas that of 3 brand inhalers of the same strength is $1100.


    Most importantly, you can get 3 inhalers of the same strength - Seretide Diskus Brand from Turkey - at just $89.


    Besides, prices of the same brand differ significantly between America and Canada. According to Statista, the average price of Advair Diskus is US $414 per inhaler in the U.S. and US $130 in Canada. Likewise, the same product costs about US $40 in the international online market.


    Also Read: Is it safe to buy medicines from other countries?

Are Seretide and Advair the Same?


Yes.


Both Seretide and Advair have the same active drugs - salmeterol xinafoate and fluticasone propionate. In fact, Advair manufacturer, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), also makes Seretide, but with a different name.


How to Save On Your Advair Diskus Prescriptions?


The price of one Advair inhaler increased by over 50% from $316 in 2013 to $496 in 2018, reports GoodRx.com.


At Canadian Prescription Drugstore, we strongly believe that the rising cost of medicines should not be a barrier to your right to health and access to quality drugs. As such, we have come up with a list of “five things to do if you want to save on your Advair Diskus prescriptions.”


  1. Ask your doctor for some samples

  2. This strategy might work for you if you have just started using Advair Diskus. Here’s why?


    Doctors routinely receive samples from drug manufacturers as a part of the promotion. Because you are a first-time user, your doctor may want to see if the medicine fits your requirements. Nonetheless, asking the doctors for samples does not always work. It is because some doctors don’t offer samples.


    Another potential drawback of this strategy is you may end up paying more than what you would pay if a generic version becomes available during therapy.


    For example, your doctor prescribes a brand-name product for the next five months and gives you free samples for the first month. If the amount you pay for one month is $50, you will have to pay $200 for the entire treatment period, provided you keep up the prescription.


    If a cheaper generic drug becomes available at $20 per month. The entire therapy will cost just $100 - which will save $100 over the branded drug.


    Thus, the usefulness of this strategy depends on three primary factors:

      • Availability of free samples
      • Availability of generic drugs
      • Length of therapy

     

  3. Contact the manufacturer for discounts for eligible low-income patients

  4. Many pharma manufacturers, through patient assistance programs (PAPs), offer limited quantities of free/low-cost medicines to patients who have problems paying for the treatment.


    The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) states that over 75 pharma companies offer such programs. Contact the manufacturer to determine if you are eligible for patient assistance.


    Most PAPs don’t charge extra except for shipping, and they deliver medicines to your physician (sometimes to you directly) within one week to six weeks.


    Depending on the type of medicine, you may receive up to a 180-day supply. To refill a prescription, you will mostly need to submit a new application.


  5. Comparison shop at your local pharmacies

  6. Several factors determine drug prices, such as the manufacturer's price, taxes, lease costs, and operational costs. Thus, what you pay at one pharmacy may be entirely different from what you pay at another pharmacy.


    Some pharmacies sell at modest profit, keeping the price as low as possible. On the other hand, some may sell at higher prices for higher profits. In essence, the first price is not the only price.


    If you are looking to save on your Advair Diskus prescriptions, the following expert-recommended tips can help you find the best price:

      • Shop around.
      • Never forget to ask: What is the lowest price for the drug?
      • Ask if drugstores have discount coupons and saving programs.
      • Inquire if the drug you are looking for is available in warehouse stores.
      • NEVER google search and order online without confirming the store’s legality. Many fraudulent websites allegedly sell at the lowest price, but they never deliver.


  7. Check online price comparison websites

  8. Websites, such as GoodRx.com, PharmacyChecker.com, and Rxsaver.com are useful tools to compare prices. Besides, these sites offer free coupons and cash savings.


  9. Save up to 80% by buying imported medicines from safe accredited Online Pharmacies

  10. Finally, accredited online pharmacies are a great source of imported medicines. You can save up to 80% on your essential drugs.


    Are all online pharmacies the same? Definitely NO.


    Fake medicines pose a tremendous threat to the entire pharmaceutical industry. They not only contain the wrong drug but may also be laced with contaminants and possibly harmful ingredients. If it’s fake, you never know what is inside each pill.


    So, if you are planning to buy your medicines online,

      • Purchase only from legitimate online pharmacies. These pharmacies don’t ship without a prescription. It is also recommended to check if they have licensed pharmacists and pharmacy technicians for patient counseling or medication evaluation.
      • Remember, reputable online pharmacies are members of PharmacyChecker - a regulating body that monitors and ensures the highest standard of pharmacy practice.
      • You can see a PharmacyChecker seal on their website and links to their Pharmacy Checker Verification Program pharmacy profile.

Looking for Discounts on Your Advair Diskus Prescriptions?


Click here to find at least 40 different brand and generic Advair Diskus products imported from different countries. You can purchase quality brand and generic drugs at the lowest price at Canadian Prescription Drugstore - one of the oldest and most trusted online pharmacy referral services.