No, Dulera and Flovent are NOT the same medication
Dulera and Flovent are fundamentally different medications that cannot be used interchangeably. Flovent contains only fluticasone propionate (an inhaled corticosteroid), while Dulera contains mometasone furoate (a different inhaled corticosteroid) plus formoterol fumarate (a long-acting beta-agonist) 1, 2.
Key Differences
Active Ingredients
- Flovent: Contains fluticasone propionate alone as a single-agent inhaled corticosteroid 1
- Dulera: Contains TWO medications - mometasone furoate (corticosteroid) AND formoterol fumarate (long-acting beta-agonist/LABA) 2
Medication Class
- Flovent: Monotherapy inhaled corticosteroid for maintenance control
- Dulera: Combination ICS/LABA therapy - a more intensive treatment option
Clinical Use According to Guidelines
Flovent (fluticasone propionate alone) is appropriate for:
- Step 2 asthma therapy as preferred low-dose ICS monotherapy 3
- Patients with mild persistent asthma who need anti-inflammatory control
- Initial controller therapy in patients not previously on ICS
Dulera (mometasone/formoterol combination) is appropriate for:
- Step 3 or higher asthma therapy when low-dose ICS alone is insufficient 3, 4
- Patients with moderate to severe persistent asthma requiring combination therapy
- Patients whose asthma is not adequately controlled on ICS monotherapy
Critical Safety Consideration
LABAs like the formoterol in Dulera should NEVER be used as monotherapy - they must always be combined with an inhaled corticosteroid 3. The FDA has issued black-box warnings about LABA monotherapy due to increased risk of severe exacerbations and deaths 3. This is why Dulera exists as a fixed-dose combination.
Common Pitfall to Avoid
Do not assume these medications are interchangeable simply because they both treat asthma. Switching from Dulera to Flovent would remove the LABA component entirely, potentially leading to loss of asthma control in patients who require combination therapy. Conversely, switching from Flovent to Dulera adds a LABA, which may be unnecessary escalation for patients well-controlled on ICS alone.
If you're considering Flovent, you're looking at ICS monotherapy. If you need the equivalent of Dulera (ICS/LABA combination), the comparable product would be Advair (fluticasone propionate/salmeterol) 3, 5, 6, not Flovent alone.