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Stiolto Respimat (tiotropium bromide/olodaterol) is a brand-name prescription medication that has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), an umbrella term for chronic bronchitis or emphysema. Stiolto combines active ingredients from two drug classes—long-acting antimuscarinic antagonist (LAMA) and long-acting beta-agonist (LABA) bronchodilators.
“Stiolto contains two long-acting medications, tiotropium bromide and olodaterol, delivered by a unique, easy-to-inhale mist device called Respimat. Both these medications help open the lung airways to improve breathing,” explained Jason Bellak, MD, president and allergist-immunologist at Allergy & Asthma Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. Although Stiolto Respimat improves breathing, it is not a rescue inhaler and does not treat shortness of breath associated with asthma and other lung conditions. It is only approved as a maintenance treatment for COPD.
Like many brand-name inhalation sprays, Stiolto can be expensive, especially for uninsured patients. However, there are opportunities to save on Stiolto. Taking advantage of coupons and assistance programs or switching insurance plans can help reduce the cost of a Stiolto prescription. A healthcare professional can also answer questions about ways to save on Stiolto.
How much does Stiolto cost?
The average retail price of Stiolto, without insurance or any discounts, is $631.32 for one inhaler with 60, 2.5 mcg tiotropium/2.5 mcg olodaterol puffs. Based on the typical dosage of two puffs per day, one inhaler contains 30 doses (60 puffs).
Of course, the price a person pays for Stiolto depends on several factors, including insurance coverage, prescribed dosage, and the pharmacy used. Most insurance and Medicare plans cover Stiolto, but the prescription copay varies by plan.
RELATED: How much does Stiolto Respimat cost with Medicare?
Can I get Stiolto for free?
In some cases, insurance may cover the entire cost of a Stiolto prescription. However, this depends on your insurance plan and whether or not your deductible has already been satisfied.
Boehringer Ingelheim, the manufacturer of Stiolto, does have savings and support programs for patients who are uninsured or underinsured. If you meet the requirements of the manufacturer’s savings card program, which we detail below, you may be able to get Stiolto Respimat for free.
How to save money on Stiolto
As a brand-name drug, Stiolto can be very cost-prohibitive. But there are ways to save.
1. Free Stiolto coupons
SingleCare offers free coupons to help save on the cash price of Stiolto prescriptions. With SingleCare, a Stiolto Respimat prescription may cost as little as $412.90 for one inhaler (4 gm of 2.5–2.5 mcg/act) at participating pharmacies.
SingleCare prices may vary by quantity, strength, form, and pharmacy, so check with the pharmacy for your exact price before filling your prescription.
2. Manufacturer savings card
Boehringer Ingelheim offers a Stiolto Respimat Savings Card for eligible patients with commercial insurance coverage. The card allows eligible individuals with COPD to pay copays as low as $35 for a Stiolto prescription. This coupon does not apply to beneficiaries of a government-funded prescription program, such as Medicaid or Medicare Part D. You need commercial health insurance to qualify for the savings card, and there’s a maximum savings of $250 per 30-day supply.
In June 2024, Boehringer Ingelheim will begin capping out-of-pocket costs for Stiolto at $35 for uninsured and underinsured patients. The $35 cost cap does not apply to people enrolled in federal government insurance programs.
3. BI Cares Patient Assistance Program
The manufacturer also has a charitable patient assistance program for eligible U.S. patients with limited incomes. The BI Cares Patient Assistance Program allows eligible individuals with COPD to get Stiolto for free if they either lack health insurance or don’t have enough coverage to make the drug affordable. They must also meet the pretax household income guidelines set by BI Cares. In 2024, income requirements are based on household size and location. Income limits are different for individuals who live in the contiguous 48 states than they are for individuals who live in Alaska or Hawaii.
You can apply for the BI Cares Patient Assistance Program by completing the patient portion of the application and then providing it to your healthcare provider who will complete the rest and forward it to BI Cares.
4. Compare prices
Sometimes, saving on Stiolto is as simple as filling your prescription at a different pharmacy. Pharmacy prices can vary, even for the same prescription drug. Find the best price by calling around to compare prices at multiple pharmacies in your area. You can also check the SingleCare coupon page for the drug.
5. Check your prescription coverage
The out-of-pocket cost for Stiolto varies widely depending on a person’s prescription coverage. Some, but not all, insurance plans cover the cost of Stiolto.
Even if a plan does not cover Stiolto now, it may cover this COPD treatment in the future. Drug formularies—the lists of preferred drugs covered by insurance plans—can change at any time, so it’s a good idea to compare formularies during open enrollment.
6. Talk to your healthcare provider about switching medications
Patients struggling to afford Stiolto should seek medical advice from their healthcare provider about cheaper medications that may still be effective at managing COPD symptoms. Other prescription COPD medications may be covered by insurance, resulting in a lower out-of-pocket cost.
Is there a cheaper alternative to Stiolto?
“There is no generic for this medication used for COPD. It’s only available as brand-name medication,” says Christina M. Madison, Pharm.D., founder of The Public Health Pharmacist. There are other COPD treatments that may work as Stiolto Respimant alternatives, but switching to save money may not be as simple as a one-to-one swap. Dr. Madison says “combo products” like Stiolto are hard to find in generic form, so patients may end up using multiple inhalers in their attempts to save.
Other long-acting COPD drugs include Bevespi Aerosphere or a combination of a bronchodilator and a steroid such as Symbicort or Advair Diskus.
Dr. Bellak says there are also short-acting versions of the two medications in Stiolto. These are available in Combivent Respimat (ipratropium-albuterol). The active ingredients are also available separately: albuterol HFA and Atrovent HFA.
Stiolto alternatives: Cost & coupons |
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|---|---|---|---|
| Drug name | Price without insurance | SingleCare price | Coupons |
| Bevespi Aerosphere | $698.06 for 1, 10.7 gm of 9–4.8 mcg/act inhaler | $427.42 for 1, 10.7 gm of 9–4.8 mcg/act inhaler | See updated prices |
| Symbicort | $527.43 for 1, 10.2 gm of 160–4.5 mcg/act inhaler | $102.74 for 1, 10.2 gm of 160–4.5 mcg/act inhaler of generic Symbicort | See updated prices |
| Advair Diskus | $553.41 for 1, 60-dose 250–50 mcg/act inhaler | $85.99 for 1, 60-dose 250–50 mcg/act inhaler of generic Advair | See updated prices |
| Combivent Respimat | $628.39 for 1, 4 gm of 20–100 mcg/act inhaler | $482.06 for 1, 4 gm of 20–100 mcg/act inhaler | See updated prices |
If you’re struggling to afford your Stiolto prescription, talk to your healthcare provider. They may know of opportunities to save money on your prescription or recommend a less expensive Stiolto alternative.
Sources
- Stiolto Respimat label, Food & Drug Administration (2019)
- What is COPD?, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (2023)
- Boehringer IngelheimCares Foundation Boehringer Ingelheim Cares Patient Assistance Program Eligibility, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals Inc.
- Request or activate a savings card, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals Inc.
- BI Cares Patient Assistance Program, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals Inc.
- Boehringer Ingelheim Cares Patient Assistance Program Eligibility, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals Inc.
- BI Cares Foundation Patient Assistance Program application, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals Inc.