Available inhaler types for asthma medicines according to pharmacological class and active ingredient

Inhaler typePharmacological classActive ingredient (brand name/s)
Standard pMDISABASalbutamol (Asmol, Ventolin, Zempreon)
ICSCiclesonide (Alvesco)
Fluticasone propionate (Axotide, Flixotide, Fluticasone Cipla)
Beclometasone (QVAR)
ICS-LABABeclometasone-formoterol (Fostair)
Budesonide-formoterol (Symbicort Rapihaler, Rilast Rapihaler)
Fluticasone propionate-formoterol (Flutiform)
Fluticasone propionate-salmeterol (Seretide, Evocair, Fluticasone Salmeterol Cipla, Pavtide, SalplusF)
ICS-LABA-LAMABeclometasone-formoterol-glycopyrronium (Trimbow)
SAMAIpratropium (Atrovent)
Breath-actuated MDISABASalbutamol (Airomir Autohaler)
ICSBeclometasone (QVAR Autohaler)
Single-dose capsule DPI ICS-LABAMometasone - indacaterol (Atectura Breezhaler)
ICS-LABA-LAMAMometasone-indacaterol-glycopyrronium (Enerzair Breezhaler)
Multi-dose DPIICSFluticasone furoate (Arnuity Ellipta)
Fluticasone propionate (Axotide Accuhaler, Flixotide Accuhaler)
ICS-LABAFluticasone furoate-vilanterol (Breo Ellipta)
Fluticasone propionate-salmeterol (Fluticasone Salmeterol Ciphaler, Seretide Accuhaler, Pavtide Accuhaler)
ICS-LABA-LAMAFluticasone furoate-vilanterol-umeclidinium (Trelegy Ellipta)
Multidose reservoir DPISABATerbutaline (Bricanyl Turbuhaler)
ICSBudesonide (Pulmicort Turbuhaler)
ICS-LABABudesonide-formoterol (Bufomix Easyhaler, DuoResp Spiromax, Rilast Turbuhaler, Symbicort Turbuhaler)
Fluticasone propionate-salmeterol (Salflumix Easyhaler)
Soft mist inhalerLAMATiotropium (Spiriva Respimat)

Additional information

DPI: dry powder inhaler; ICS: inhaled corticosteroid; LABA: long-acting beta2 agonist; LAMA: long-acting muscarinic antagonist; MDI: metered dose inhaler; pMDI: pressurised metered-dose inhaler; SABA: short-acting beta2 agonist; SAMA: short-acting muscarinic antagonist

Single-dose capsule DPI: a capsule must be inserted into the device for each dose

Multi-dose DPI: each actuation releases one dose from pre-loaded individual blisters

Multidose reservoir DPI: each actuation meters out one dose from a pre-loaded reservoir