formoterol vs salmeterol
Side-by-side comparison of formoterol and salmeterol Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
Foradil, Perforomist
Serevent
Formoterol is a medicine that helps open your airways. It is used to make breathing easier for people with COPD.
Fluticasone Propionate/Salmeterol MDPI is a combination medicine used to control asthma. It contains a steroid to reduce swelling and a long-acting bronchodilator to open airways.
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.
This medicine treats asthma in adults and children 12 years and older. It is for people whose asthma is not well-controlled with other medicines. It can also be used when a long-acting bronchodilator and steroid are needed to control 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.
Fluticasone propionate, a steroid, lowers inflammation in your lungs. Salmeterol is a long-acting beta-2 agonist (LABA). It relaxes airway muscles to help you breathe easier.
- • Diarrhea
- • Nausea
- • Runny nose
- • Dry mouth
- • Vomiting
- • Nasopharyngitis (common cold)
- • Oral candidiasis (thrush)
- • Headache
- • 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.
LABA medicines like salmeterol can raise the risk of serious asthma problems. Do not use this medicine to relieve sudden asthma symptoms. Always have a rescue inhaler for sudden symptoms. Do not use this medicine with other LABA medicines.
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. It is not known if this medicine will harm your unborn baby. Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of using this medicine during pregnancy.
Also Compare — Nearby Drugs
Compare formoterol with
Compare salmeterol with
How to Read This formoterol vs salmeterol Comparison
formoterol is classified in the Long-Acting Beta-2 Agonist (LABA) drug class, while salmeterol 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 salmeterol 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 salmeterol — 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.