formoterol vs olodaterol
Side-by-side comparison of formoterol and olodaterol Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
Foradil, Perforomist
Striverdi Respimat
Formoterol is a medicine that helps open your airways. It is used to make breathing easier for people with COPD.
Striverdi Respimat is a medicine that helps people with COPD breathe easier. It contains olodaterol, which is a long-acting beta-2 agonist (LABA).
Formoterol inhalation solution is used to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). COPD includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema. This medicine helps to lessen the tightening of your airways, making it easier to breathe. It is for long-term use and should be taken twice a day.
Striverdi Respimat is used long-term to treat COPD, including chronic bronchitis and emphysema. It helps to open up the airways in your lungs, making it easier to breathe. This medicine is not for sudden COPD symptoms or for asthma.
Formoterol is a long-acting beta-2 agonist (LABA). It works by relaxing the muscles around your airways. This allows more air to flow in and out of your lungs.
Olodaterol is a LABA. It works by relaxing the muscles around your airways. This helps to open them up so air can flow in and out of your lungs more easily.
- • Diarrhea
- • Nausea
- • Runny nose
- • Dry mouth
- • Vomiting
- • Common cold symptoms
- • Cough
- • Back pain
- Difficulty breathing 1,076
- Asthma 1,032
- Cough 604
- Wheezing 543
- Pneumonia 416
No adverse event reports.
If you have asthma, you should not take formoterol without also using an inhaled corticosteroid medicine. Using formoterol alone for asthma can increase the risk of serious asthma problems, including death. Do not use formoterol to treat sudden breathing problems. Always have a rescue inhaler with you to treat sudden symptoms.
LABAs like olodaterol can raise the risk of asthma-related death if used alone to treat asthma. Striverdi Respimat is not for asthma. Using too much Striverdi Respimat can cause serious heart problems and may be fatal. If you have a bad reaction, like swelling or trouble breathing, stop using Striverdi Respimat and get medical help right away.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if formoterol will harm your unborn baby. Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of using formoterol during pregnancy. It is also not known if formoterol passes into breast milk.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Striverdi Respimat should only be used during pregnancy if the benefit outweighs the risk to the baby. It is not known if Striverdi Respimat passes into breast milk.
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How to Read This formoterol vs olodaterol Comparison
formoterol is classified in the Long-Acting Beta-2 Agonist (LABA) drug class, while olodaterol sits within the Long-Acting Beta-2 Agonist (LABA) class. Because both drugs share the same classification, they are often considered interchangeable in theory — but clinical outcomes rarely track that cleanly. 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, formoterol has 3,671 submissions while olodaterol has 0. 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 formoterol and olodaterol — 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.