PAD Refills
Last updated on April 3, 2024April 2024
COPD inhaled medication table update
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This is a 2024 update to the BC Provincial Academic Detailing (PAD) Service’s 2020 Table “COPD Inhaled Medications Table” which includes additions to the inhaled medications list and COPD BC PharmaCare coverage changes. Refer to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) for complete details on the stepwise approach to PharmaCare coverage of COPD inhalers in B.C.
| Medication | Brand name, inhaler device (dose per inhalation) | Usual adult dose | Cost per 30 days | BC PharmaCare coverage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SABA short-acting beta2 agonist | ||||
| salbutamol | Ventolin HFA MDI, Airomir MDI, generics (100 mcg) | 1-2 inh QID (max 8 inh/day) | $10/200 inh | regular benefit |
| Ventolin Diskus (200 mcg) | 1 inh every 4-6 hours (max 4 inh/day) | $15/60 inh | non-benefit | |
| terbutaline | Bricanyl Turbuhaler (500 mcg) | 1-2 inh PRN (max 6 inh/day) | $15/120 inh | regular benefit |
| SAMA short-acting muscarinic antagonist | ||||
| ipratropium + salbutamol | Combivent Respimat (20/100 mcg) | 1 inh QID (max 6 inh/day) | $35/120 inh | regular benefit |
| LAMA long-acting muscarinic antagonist | ||||
| umeclidinium | Incruse Ellipta (62.5 mcg) | 1 inh once a day | $55 | regular benefit |
| tiotropium | Spiriva Respimat (2.5 mcg) | 2 inh once a day | $60 | |
| tiotropium | Spiriva HandiHaler, LupinHaler generic (18 mcg) | 1 inh once a day | $45 generic | limited coverage after a minimum one- month trial of each regular benefit LAMA |
| $60 | ||||
| aclidinium | Tudorza Genuair (400 mcg) | 1 inh BID | $60 | |
| glycopyrronium | Seebri Breezhaler (50 mcg) | 1 inh once a day | $60 | |
| LABA long-acting beta2 agonist | ||||
| salmeterol | Serevent Diskus (50 mcg) | 1 inh BID | $80 |
limited coverage unable to use a LAMA |
| LAMA + LABA long-acting muscarinic antagonist + long-acting beta2 agonist | ||||
| aclidinium + formoterol | Duaklir Genuair (400/12 mcg) | 1 inh BID | $70 |
limited coverage after a 6-month trial of a LAMA or a LABA |
| glycopyrronium + indacaterol | Ultibro Breezhaler (50/110 mcg) | 1 inh once a day | $85 | |
| tiotropium + olodaterol | Inspiolto Respimat (2.5/2.5 mcg) | 2 inh once a day | $70 | |
| umeclidinium + vilanterol | Anoro Ellipta (62.5/25 mcg) | 1 inh once a day | $95 | |
| ICS + LABA inhaled corticosteroid + long-acting beta2 agonist | ||||
| fluticasone propionate + salmeterol | Advair Diskus, generics DPI, Wixela Inhub (250/50 mcg) | 1 inh BID | $55 generic |
limited coverage after a 6-month trial of a LAMA or a LABA & frequent exacerbations |
| $130 | ||||
| Advair Diskus, generics DPI, Wixela Inhub (500/50 mcg) | 1 inh BID | $ 80 generic | ||
| $180 | ||||
| fluticasone furoate + vilanterol | Breo Ellipta (100/25 mcg) | 1 inh once a day | $110 | |
| budesonide + formoterol | Symbicort Turbuhaler (200/6 mcg) | 2 inh BID | $100 | non-benefit |
| ICS + LAMA + LABA inhaled corticosteroid + long-acting muscarinic antagonist + long-acting beta2 agonist | ||||
| fluticasone furoate + umeclidinium + vilanterol | Trelegy Ellipta (100/62.5/25 mcg) | 1 inh once a day | $150 |
limited coverage after a 6-month trial of LAMA+LABA or ICS+LABA, & frequent exacerbations |
| budesonide + glycopyrronium + formoterol | Breztri Aerosphere (182/8.2/5.8 mcg) | 2 inh BID | $140 | |
| HFA hydrofluoroalkane; MDI metered dose inhaler; DPI dry powder inhaler; mcg micrograms; inh inhalation; BID twice a day; TID three times a day; QID four times a day; PRN when necessary; Cost without mark-up and professional fee calculated from McKesson Canada rounded to nearest $5 (accessed March 6, 2024) | ||||
1 Health Canada Drug Product Monographs; 2 BC PAD COPD Newsletter 2017
2024
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2021
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2020
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