George K.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1 in 13 people has asthma. With matters of your health, the medication you take is important. Anything that is not efficient can be detrimental.
That’s why doing your research on the different medications available is important, it saves lives. If you suffer from asthma, you may have heard of Wixela and Advair, both are used to help treat asthma. While the two have many similarities, you’ll want to know the benefits of Wixela vs Advair and decide which one is better.
Let’s dive into it.
What is Asthma?
Before discussing Wixela and Advair, you must know exactly what it’s treating. Asthma is a condition in which your airways get smaller. They’ll swell, which causes a lot of difficulty breathing. If you experience coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath, then you might have asthma.
The level of severity ranges between minor nuisance to life-threatening if untreated. Unfortunately, asthma can’t be cured, but you can control the symptoms with the right medication. Since asthma can change over time, it’s important that you and your doctor stay updated and prescribe the right medication.
Here are the symptoms of asthma:
- Chest tightness or pain
- Coughing or wheezing attacks during a cold or flu
- Shortness of breath
- Lack of sleep due to breathing difficulties
You’ll know if your asthma is getting worse, if your symptoms are more frequent and getting worse.
What is Advair?
Advair is a medication used to treat asthma and chronic bronchitis. It contains 2 medications: salmeterol and fluticasone.
Salmeterol is part of the class of drugs known as long-acting beta agonists, and Fluticasone is part of a class of drugs known as corticosteroids. They both work by relaxing the muscles around the airways. This helps you breathe more easily.
Advair should be used when breathing problems aren’t well controlled with just one asthma-control medication or if your asthma requires combination treatment. There are two different Advair products, Advair HFA and Advair Diskus 250/50.
Advair Diskus 250/50 is a prescription medicine used twice a day that you can use long term to treat different diseases like chronic bronchitis, emphysema, or both. It helps you breathe better and have fewer flare-ups.
As far as Advair HFA, it differs from Advair Diskus in both the delivery method and dosage, but both are made of the same medications. Advair Diskus is a dry powder inhaler and you deliver Advair HFA by propellant.
Advair vs Wixela
Now that you know about Advair and what it’s used for, it’s time to explore the differences between Advair vs Wixela. Wixela Inhub Diskus is the generic version of Advair Diskus. It is therapeutically equivalent to Advair Diskus.
Both Wixela and Advair are combination products that contain a corticosteroid. They also contain a long-acting beta2-adrenergic agonist. You shouldn’t use either of them to relieve acute bronchospasm.
They’re both beneficial in that they not only help control the symptoms of asthma, but they can improve your breathing. If you are using other asthma medicine and you feel like your asthma is not under control, then Advair or Wixela will get you the help you need. Both medications are also used to treat air flow blockage and reduce the worsening of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Inhaled fluticasone belongs to the family of medicines known as corticosteroids or steroids (cortisone-like medicines). It works by preventing certain cells in the lungs and breathing passages from releasing substances that cause asthma symptoms.
If you’re trying to decide which one is better, they are both equivalent to one another according to study results published in the Journal of Aerosol Medicine and Pulmonary Drug Delivery.
As far as price goes, generic brands like Wixela are more affordable. If you prefer Advair and are worried about costs, don’t fret, the Advair price is very fair.
Side Effects
Now that you know that both Advair and Wixela are similar except for delivery method and dosage, let’s look at the side effects of each medicine. No matter what medication you’re going to take, you want to look over the side effects to ensure that you’re a suitable candidate for the medication.
Some side effects of Advair Diskus include:
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Sore throat
- Sinus pain
- Dry throat/mouth
- Upper respiratory tract infections
- Stomach upset
- Yeast infections of the mouth or throat
- Deepened voice
- Diarrhea
- Deepened voice
- Musculoskeletal pain
If you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, know that Fluticasone and Salmeterol has not been tested adequately and should be avoided. The only exception to that is if the potential benefits justifies the potential risks to the fetus. Consult with your doctor if there are any questions.
As for the side effects of Wixela, you’ll notice there’ are a lot of similarities. This makes sense because they’re made of the same things. There are a couple of differences.
Some side effects of Wixela include:
- Sore throat
- Oral thrush
- Hoarseness
- Bronchitis
- Headaches
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Pneumonia
- Viral respiratory infections
- Musculoskeletal pain
Just like Advair, you’ll want to consult your doctor before taking Wixela if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding. There have not been enough studies done to know the effect the medication will have on a fetus. It’s also unknown if Wixela can transfer in breast milk.
Take Control of Your Asthma
Having asthma doesn’t need to control your entire life. There are so many medications available to keep your asthma under control. Two well-known medications are Advair and Wixela.
Wixela is the generic brand version of Advair. For Advair vs Wixela, they both have similar therapeutic effects due to their similar chemical makeup. The difference between them is the dosage amount as well as their delivery use. Regardless of which medication you choose to take, you’ll be able to get your asthma under control.
If you found this article useful and informative, be sure to check out the rest of our health and fitness section!
