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After Flovent, one of the most popular inhaler devices used to treat childhood asthma, was discontinued last January, some parents are reporting difficulties obtaining generic versions of the drug.
Both versions are identical drugs manufactured by the same London-based pharmaceutical company GSK.
“Effective January 1, 2024, and upon the availability of these approved generics, GSK will cease manufacturing the Flovent HFA brand (all strengths) and the Flovent Diskus brand (all strengths) for the U.S. market,” GSK said in a statement the press release autumn 2023.
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“It is important to understand that the transition from branded products to approved generics will have no impact on our ability to supply the market and we expect minimal disruption to patients,” the company added.
Most insurance plans will likely replace Flovent with a generic version, but some customers may experience delays if their insurance doesn't cover the generic, the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) says on its website.
GSK has stopped manufacturing the Flovent inhaler in the United States effective January 1, 2024. (Getty Images/Getty Images)
“The U.S. has a complicated drug pricing ecosystem,” AAFA President and CEO Kenneth Mendez said in a statement shared with FOX Business by the foundation.
“The U.S. has a complicated drug pricing ecosystem.”
“Drug manufacturers, pharmacy benefit managers, insurance companies, employers and federal policymakers can create situations that limit patient access to important medications,” he added.
Here's what you should know about transitioning from brand name to generic version of Flovent.
Generic versions vs. Flovent
According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), asthma is a chronic lung disease characterized by narrowing and inflammation of the airways.
Bronchodilators like albuterol help expand the airways, while inhaled steroids like Flovent help control pneumonia.
Some asthma patients need to take inhaled steroids daily to prevent respiratory symptoms from worsening.
According to the National Institutes of Health, asthma is a chronic lung disease characterized by narrowing of the airways and inflammation around the airways. (iStock / iStock)
GSK noted that the approved generic versions of Flovent contain the same medicine – in the same device and with the same instructions – as the branded version.
“We have seen the price of Flovent increase. The price of Flovent HFA, fluticasone propionate HFA and Flovent Diskus has increased 47% since 2014,” Tori Marsh, head of research at Colorado-based GoodRx, told Fox News Digital.
“When brand-name drugs are abandoned in favor of generics, it is usually to create lower prices for consumers.”
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When drugs become generic, multiple manufacturers can make them, leading to more competition, she said.
However, consumers don't always see these savings because insurance coverage plays a large role in how much they actually pay at the pharmacy, Marsh added.
If the insurance plan does not cover generic fluticasone, the AAFA recommends requesting a “formula exception” to determine whether the provider will elect to cover the inhaler.
GSK noted that the approved generic versions of Flovent contain the same medicine, in the same device and with the same instructions as the branded version. (Getty Images/Getty Images)
If the insurance plan still doesn't cover the generic, AAFA says providers will look to alternative inhaler brands like ArmonAir Digihaler and Arnuity Ellipta.
If insurance only covers another generic inhaler but not generic Flovent, customers typically experience a large price difference, Marsh said.
Reactions to the change
Some users are discussing on social media what impact the change will have on their children.
One reported that a pharmacy was having difficulty maintaining a consistent supply of the drug.
“And as a bonus, my insurance still charges me the same copay as a brand name drug,” wrote one frustrated user on Reddit.
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Other parents have not noticed any difficulties with the transition.
One user said he was using the generic version, while another “just noticed my son actually took the generic.” [version] “It’s been a while now…He hasn’t noticed any difference.”
Another parent expects her child's doctor to switch the child to Arnuity, “which is basically the same thing.”
“I expect this will have minimal impact on them.”
Differences between inhaler types
“The type of device and the type of drug can influence effectiveness in individual patients,” Mendez told Fox News Digital.
Two common types of inhalers are meter-dose inhalers (MDIs) or dry powder inhalers (DPIs) — but they are not used in the same way, the AAFA warned.
If children are switched to a different brand of inhaler, they could be forced to use a different type, an expert found. (iStock / iStock)
According to the Cleveland Clinic website, an MDI sprays a preset amount of the drug into the airways through the mouth.
When the canister is pushed down, a propellant causes the medication to reach the lungs.
Some children have difficulty with this step because they have to take a deep breath when pushing down on the canister, so the medication may stay in the back of their throat instead of going to the lungs, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
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According to the American Lung Association, children often find it easier to use an MDI that is attached to a small cylindrical tube called a “spacer.”
After attaching the inhaler to the end of the spacer, the child closes their lips tightly around the rubber ring at the other end.
Instead of having to synchronize a deep breath when depressing the inhaler, the child can take more normal breaths after depressing the inhaler.
GSK, the pharmaceutical company that made Flovent, is based in London. (iStock / iStock)
The spacer warns the child with a whistle if he or she is breathing too quickly to get the medicine into the lungs.
If a child is switched to a different brand of inhaler, they may be forced to use a DPI inhaler instead of an MDI, Mendez noted.
“A DPI is breath controlled, meaning a patient must be able to adequately inhale the medication and use the Discus device properly,” he said.
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Pulmicort, an inhaler in the same class of inhaled corticosteroids but with a different active ingredient than Flovent, is only available as a DPI.
The medication is stored as a powder, but the inhaler does not contain a propellant to push the medication into the lungs. Therefore, the patient must breathe deeply to use the inhaler properly, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
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“DPIs can be challenging for children, seniors who lack dexterity, or people with severe asthma who cannot breathe deeply enough to get the medication into their lungs,” Mendez said.
Fox News Digital reached out to GSK, the maker of Flovent, for comment.
For more health articles, see www.foxnews/health.