ProAir Digihaler vs Respiclick, what's the difference?

Official answer

by Drugs.com

Overview

ProAir Digihaler and ProAir Respiclick both come as breath-activated, dry powder inhalers, but the Digihaler has built-in sensors to help capture your inhaler usage data on an app. You can share this data with your doctor if you choose. Respiclick does not have digital capability to share inhaler data.

If you are paying cash, ProAir Digihaler is about twice the cost of ProAir Respiclick, but may be covered by your insurance. Connection to the app is not required to be able to use the Digihaler.

Both ProAir Digihaler and ProAir Respiclick are approved by the FDA for the same uses and doses. They are used to treat and prevent sudden breathing problems in asthma or COPD, as well as prevent exercise-induced bronchospasm in people 4 years and older.

Both products are manufactured by Teva Pharmaceuticals.

How are they similar?

Both ProAir Digihaler and Respiclick are multi-dose, breath-activated dry powder inhalers. “Breath-activated” means the medicine is only released when you inhale. It “clicks” when you open the cover and loads your dose. The medicine is not delivered to your lungs until you breathe it in.

As opposed to an aerosol spray, dry powder eliminates the need for hand-breath coordination during inhalation. This means you don’t have to coordinate pressing and inhaling your dose at the same time. With the Digihaler and Respiclick, you do not need to prime the inhaler, wash it, shake it before use, or use a spacer. In fact, ProAir Digihaler or ProAir Respiclick cannot be used with a spacer because they are dry powders.

Both inhalers have a dose counter to let you know when it’s time to refill your prescription. Each inhaler provides 200 inhalation doses.

Both ProAir Digihaler and Respiclick have the same common side effects, which include:

back pain, pain

viral stomach infection

sinus headache

urinary tract infection

common cold symptoms

throat or mouth pain

vomiting

How does ProAir Digihaler work?

ProAir Digihaler contains built-in smart sensors that will allow you to send inhaler use data to a companion mobile app using Bluetooth wireless technology. You can share this data with your healthcare provider if you choose. ProAir Respliclick does not have this capability.

ProAir Digihaler can provide you information about how often you use the inhaler and how well you inhale by measuring the strength of your inhalations. You can review and share this data with your doctor over time. This can help you and your doctor better manage your asthma or COPD treatment plan.

You can download the ProAir Digihaler app and register your account from your mobile phone. Registration is required to be able to share data. If you need assistance, you can call the activation registration hotline at 1-800-603-0788.

How much is a ProAir inhaler without insurance?

If you are paying cash for your prescription, the cost of ProAir Digihaler is usually more expensive than the cost of ProAir Respiclick, probably due to the built-in smart technology. Neither inhaler has a generic alternative at this time.

ProAir Digihaler dry powder inhaler (90 mcg/inh) is about $170 for one inhaler (200 doses), but can vary based on your pharmacy, location and any coupons you may have.

ProAir Respiclick dry powder inhaler (90 mcg/inh) is about $80 for one inhaler (200 doses), but can also vary.

The Drugs.com Discount cards for these products can be found and printed here.

Is there a generic for ProAir?

There are no generics for the dry-powder inhalers ProAir Digihaler or ProAir Respiclick at this time.

If cost is preventing you from obtaining an albuterol rescue inhaler, ProAir HFA and its generics are more affordable. However, the ProAir HFA and the generic is an aerosol spray, not a dry powder inhaler, which may be more difficult for you to coordinate. If you need help with your inhaler technique, ask your doctor or pharmacist. They might also suggest you use a spacer device with aerosol products to make inhalations easier.

Speak with your doctor if you prefer a generic. Generic albuterol inhalers are readily available at pharmacies. Using a discount coupon, they should not cost you more than $15 to $25 per inhaler.

If you have commercial insurance and prefer the Digihaler, Teva Pharmaceuticals, the manufacturer, may be able to offer you copay cards that will help to lower your copay cost to $20 per inhaler.

Proair Digihaler vs Respiclick: What are they used for?

ProAir Digihaler and ProAir Respiclick are rescue inhalers that contain albuterol, a short-acting beta-2 agonist (SABA). Albuterol works by relaxing the smooth muscle cells in the lungs and opening up the airways. They are both prescription medicines used for sudden breathing problems in patients living with lung conditions like asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

ProAir Digihaler and ProAir Respiclick are both approved for use in people 4 years of age and older:

to help treat or prevent sudden breathing problems (bronchospasm) in people who have reversible obstructive airway disease

to help prevent exercise-induced bronchospasm.

The recommended dose for ProAir Digihaler and ProAir Respiclick is:

Bronchospasm: Two (2) inhalations every 4 to 6 hours by oral inhalation. Do not exceed this dose. In some patients, 1 inhalation every 4 hours may be sufficient.

Exercise-induced bronchospasm: Two (2) inhalations 15 to 30 minutes before exercise by oral inhalation.

Always follow your doctor’s specific directions for dosing. Do not increase your dose or take extra doses of any ProAir product without first talking to your healthcare provider.

This is not all the information you need to know about ProAir products for safe and effective use and does not take the place of your doctor’s directions. Review the full product information and discuss this information and any questions you have with your doctor or other health care provider.

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