indacaterol vs salmeterol

PlainMeds reviewed this comparison against our methodology in August 2026. It places FDA and CMS record fields side by side, without recommending either medication.

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

Drug Class
indacaterol Long-Acting Beta-2 Agonist (LABA)
salmeterol Long-Acting Beta-2 Agonist (LABA)
Type
indacaterol Prescription
salmeterol Prescription
Summary
indacaterol

No summary available.

salmeterol

No summary available.

What It Treats
indacaterol

Information not available.

salmeterol

Information not available.

How It Works
indacaterol

Information not available.

salmeterol

Information not available.

Common Side Effects
indacaterol
  • Common cold symptoms (nasopharyngitis)
  • High blood pressure (hypertension)
salmeterol
  • Nasopharyngitis (common cold)
  • Oral candidiasis (thrush)
  • Headache
  • Cough
  • Back pain
FAERS Reports
indacaterol

No adverse event reports.

salmeterol

No adverse event reports.

Serious Warnings
indacaterol

No specific warnings noted.

salmeterol

No specific warnings noted.

Pregnancy
indacaterol

No pregnancy information available.

salmeterol

No pregnancy information available.

Also Compare, Nearby Drugs

How to Read This indacaterol vs salmeterol Comparison

indacaterol 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, indacaterol has 0 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 represent individual circumstances. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This registry does not provide medical, treatment, substitution, or medication-change directions for indacaterol or salmeterol.

Registry boundary: This comparison displays source-record fields and does not provide individualized medical direction.