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Medication class

Respiratory

Inhalers, bronchodilators, and corticosteroids for asthma, COPD, and other lung conditions.

Data updated 2026-05-15

36
Medications
17
With a generic
87%
Avg generic savings
2
In active shortage

Drug class assignments follow the FDA openFDA therapeutic classification, and clinical details are drawn from FDA Structured Product Labeling (DailyMed). See the full sources below.

PlainMeds tracks 36 respiratory medications compiled from official FDA drug labels, including dupilumab, prednisolone, albuterol.

Respiratory medications are grouped here by the openFDA therapeutic classification and drawn from FDA Structured Product Labeling. PlainMeds lists 36 in this class, 17 with a lower-cost generic available (averaging about 87% versus brand). Each drug page covers labeled uses, FAERS-reported side effects, interactions, recalls and NADAC pricing. This is educational information from public data, not medical advice.

What respiratory drugs cost

Highest NADAC acquisition cost per unit in this class, brand and generic

per unit

What this shows dupilumab is the costliest in this class at $1608.00/unit; generics in the same class run a fraction of that.

Source CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC)

Generic availability vs other classes

47% of respiratory medications have a generic available, ranking #22 of 22 therapeutic classes (the typical class sits near 74%).

47% (lowest class) 100% (highest class)

Source: CMS NADAC generic-availability flags across all PlainMeds therapeutic classes. The dot is this class; the line is the cross-class median.

aclidinium

Tudorza Pressair

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albuterol

Ventolin, ProAir, Proventil

Albuterol is a drug that helps you breathe easier.

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albuterol/ipratropium

Combivent Respimat, DuoNeb

Combivent Respimat is a combination medicine that helps open your airways.

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beclomethasone

Qvar

Qvar Redihaler is an inhaled medicine that helps control asthma symptoms.

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benralizumab

Fasenra

Fasenra is a medicine that can help treat severe asthma and EGPA.

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benzonatate

Tessalon Perles

Benzonatate is a medicine that can help relieve your cough.

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budesonide

Pulmicort, Entocort

Budesonide nasal spray is a steroid medicine.

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budesonide/formoterol

Symbicort

Symbicort is a combination medicine that contains a steroid and a long-acting bronchodilator.

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ciclesonide

Alvesco

Omnaris Nasal Spray is a medicine that helps treat nasal allergy symptoms.

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cromolyn

Intal

Cromolyn (Intal) is a medicine that helps manage mastocytosis, a condition where you have too many mast cells.

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dextromethorphan OTC

Delsym, Robitussin

Dextromethorphan is a medicine that helps to relieve coughs.

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dupilumab

Dupixent

Dupixent is a medicine that can help treat several conditions.

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fluticasone/salmeterol

Advair

Advair Diskus is a medicine that contains a steroid and a long-acting bronchodilator.

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fluticasone/umeclidinium/vilanterol

Trelegy Ellipta

Trelegy Ellipta is a medicine that contains three drugs in one inhaler.

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fluticasone/vilanterol

Breo Ellipta

Breo Ellipta is a medicine that contains a corticosteroid and a long-acting beta-agonist.

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formoterol

Foradil, Perforomist

Formoterol is a medicine that helps open your airways.

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glycopyrrolate

Seebri, Lonhala

Glycopyrrolate injection reduces body secretions before and during surgery.

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glycopyrrolate/formoterol

Bevespi Aerosphere

Bevespi Aerosphere is a medicine that helps people with COPD breathe easier.

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guaifenesin OTC

Mucinex

Guaifenesin (Mucinex) is a medicine that helps to loosen mucus in your lungs.

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indacaterol

Arcapta Neohaler

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ipratropium

Atrovent

Ipratropium is a medicine that helps you breathe easier.

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mepolizumab

Nucala

Nucala is a medicine that can help control certain types of asthma and other conditions.

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mometasone

Asmanex

Mometasone cream is a medicine that reduces skin inflammation and itching.

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montelukast

Singulair

Montelukast is a medicine that helps control asthma and allergies.

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olodaterol

Striverdi Respimat

Striverdi Respimat is a medicine that helps people with COPD breathe easier.

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omalizumab

Xolair

Xolair is a medicine that can help with asthma, nasal polyps, food allergies, and chronic hives.

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prednisolone

Orapred, Pediapred

Prednisolone eye drops reduce inflammation in your eye.

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pseudoephedrine OTC

Sudafed

Pseudoephedrine (Sudafed) helps clear up a stuffy nose.

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roflumilast

Daliresp

Roflumilast (Daliresp) helps to reduce flare-ups in people with severe COPD.

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salmeterol

Serevent

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tezepelumab

Tezspire

Tezspire is a medicine that can help control severe asthma and chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps.

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theophylline

Theo-24, Elixophyllin

Theophylline is a medicine that helps you breathe easier.

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tiotropium

Spiriva

STIOLTO RESPIMAT is a medicine that combines two drugs to help people with COPD breathe easier.

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tiotropium/olodaterol

Stiolto Respimat

Stiolto Respimat combines two medicines to help you breathe better if you have COPD.

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umeclidinium

Incruse Ellipta

Incruse Ellipta is a medicine that helps people with COPD breathe easier.

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umeclidinium/vilanterol

Anoro Ellipta

Anoro Ellipta is a combination medicine used long-term to help people with COPD breathe better.

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Compare aclidinium vs albuterol side-by-side →

Understanding the Respiratory Category

The Respiratory category currently lists 36 medications in this database, each drawn from FDA drug labels and grouped by therapeutic classification. Inhalers, bronchodilators, and corticosteroids for asthma, COPD, and other lung conditions. Clinical guidelines usually treat these medications as a reference set when weighing treatment options, switching strategies, or comparing safety profiles.

Within this category you'll find examples such as dupilumab, prednisolone, albuterol, alongside 33 other entries. Each drug page links to the same underlying FDA data, labeled uses, adverse events reported to FAERS, documented interactions, warnings, and, where available, NADAC acquisition pricing from CMS. Over-the-counter and prescription options can sit in the same category but follow different regulatory pathways: OTC products have simplified labeling aimed at self-care, while prescription drugs include detailed monographs meant for clinicians. That distinction matters when comparing dosing, monitoring requirements, and contraindications.

Browsing a category is a research starting point, not a treatment recommendation. Effectiveness, tolerability, and cost for any individual patient depend on the specific condition, comorbidities, other medications, genetics, and insurance coverage, none of which can be inferred from a category list alone. FAERS report counts, recall history, and shortage status all evolve as new data is reported to the FDA, so the relative standing of drugs in this class can shift month to month. This page is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice, a licensed clinician is the right source for personalized guidance.

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Sources: FDA Drug Labels (SPL); openFDA therapeutic classification.

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Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Data currency: FDA FAERS adverse-event reports through 2025, CMS NADAC acquisition-cost pricing effective December 2024, compiled and last refreshed May 2026. See our methodology for per-source dates and refresh cadence. Spot a figure that looks wrong? Report a correction.