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aclidinium vs glycopyrrolate/formoterol

Side-by-side comparison of aclidinium and glycopyrrolate/formoterol Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.

Drug Class
aclidinium Long-Acting Muscarinic Antagonist (LAMA)
glycopyrrolate/formoterol LAMA / LABA Combination
Type
aclidinium Prescription
glycopyrrolate/formoterol Prescription
Summary
aclidinium

Duaklir Pressair is a combination medicine used to help people with COPD breathe better. It contains two medicines that open up the airways in your lungs.

glycopyrrolate/formoterol

Bevespi Aerosphere is a medicine that helps people with COPD breathe easier. It contains two medicines that work together to open airways.

What It Treats
aclidinium

Duaklir Pressair is used to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). COPD is a long-term lung disease that makes it hard to breathe. This medicine helps to open the airways and make it easier to breathe for people with COPD.

glycopyrrolate/formoterol

Bevespi Aerosphere is used to help manage chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). COPD is a long-term lung disease that makes it hard to breathe. This medicine helps to open your airways so you can breathe easier. It is not for sudden breathing problems.

How It Works
aclidinium

Duaklir Pressair contains two medicines that work in different ways. One medicine relaxes the muscles around your airways, opening them up. The other medicine prevents the muscles from tightening.

glycopyrrolate/formoterol

This medicine combines two drugs: glycopyrrolate and formoterol. Glycopyrrolate is an anticholinergic that relaxes the muscles around your airways. Formoterol is a LABA that also relaxes airway muscles, helping you breathe better.

Common Side Effects
aclidinium
  • Upper respiratory infection
  • Headache
  • Back pain
glycopyrrolate/formoterol
  • Cough
  • Urinary tract infection
FAERS Reports
aclidinium
  • Difficulty breathing 1,869
  • Inhaler not working correctly 1,281
  • Skipped a dose of medicine 1,017
  • Asthma 814
  • Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) 764
glycopyrrolate/formoterol
  • Difficulty breathing 1,000
  • Asthma 793
  • Wheezing 674
  • Cough 626
  • Pneumonia 538
Serious Warnings
aclidinium

LABAs, such as formoterol fumarate, one of the active ingredients in DUAKLIR PRESSAIR, increase the risk of asthma-related death. Duaklir Pressair is not for asthma. Do not use Duaklir Pressair if you are allergic to milk proteins or any of the ingredients in it. Tell your doctor if you have heart problems, glaucoma, trouble urinating, diabetes, or seizures.

glycopyrrolate/formoterol

LABA medicines like formoterol, when used alone for asthma, increase the risk of serious asthma problems. Bevespi Aerosphere is only for COPD, not asthma. Do not use Bevespi Aerosphere if you have asthma.

Pregnancy
aclidinium

It is not known if Duaklir Pressair will harm an unborn baby. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is also not known if this medicine passes into breast milk. Talk to your doctor about the best way to feed your baby if you are taking Duaklir Pressair.

glycopyrrolate/formoterol

It is not known if Bevespi Aerosphere will harm your unborn baby. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is also not known if this medicine passes into breast milk. Talk to your doctor about the best way to feed your baby if you are using Bevespi Aerosphere.

Also Compare — Nearby Drugs

How to Read This aclidinium vs glycopyrrolate/formoterol Comparison

aclidinium is classified in the Long-Acting Muscarinic Antagonist (LAMA) drug class, while glycopyrrolate/formoterol sits within the LAMA / LABA Combination class. Drugs from different classes work through distinct mechanisms, so a head-to-head comparison illustrates trade-offs rather than equivalence. Both drugs are prescription-only, so a licensed provider must authorize use.

Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, aclidinium has 5,745 submissions while glycopyrrolate/formoterol has 3,631. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume — not per-patient risk — so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. No direct interaction between these two drugs is listed in our FDA-derived dataset, though co-prescription still warrants pharmacist review. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.

A table cannot substitute for clinical judgment. Effectiveness, tolerability, drug-drug interactions with your other medications, kidney and liver function, pregnancy status, insurance formulary, and price all feed into a decision that only a licensed prescriber can make responsibly. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This page is for educational purposes only, is not medical advice, and should not be used to self-switch between aclidinium and glycopyrrolate/formoterol — always consult your physician or pharmacist first.

Important: This comparison is for informational purposes only. Drug effects vary between individuals. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized medical advice.