Dulera Metered-Dose Inhaler (Mometasone and Formoterol)

One inhaler, two medicines: the practical difference Dulera makes

Dulera pairs mometasone furoate, a corticosteroid, with formoterol fumarate, a long-acting beta2-agonist, in a single pressurised metered-dose inhaler that delivers 5 mcg of formoterol and 200 mcg of mometasone with every actuation. That fixed combination inside one canister is the detail worth weighing before choosing it: several alternative asthma combinations are dispensed as dry powder inhalers activated by inhalation, whereas Dulera is a press-and-breathe aerosol that requires you to coordinate pressing the canister with a slow, steady breath in. If technique, dexterity, or a preference for a familiar puffer style matters as much to you as the active ingredients, that distinction is often the real starting point for comparison.

What Dulera is and the role it plays in asthma care

Dulera belongs to the inhaled corticosteroid and long-acting bronchodilator combination class used for the regular maintenance treatment of asthma. This strength is established for people aged 12 years and older, including adults. It is not a rescue inhaler: it is used on a fixed routine to help control airway inflammation and narrowing over the longer term, alongside a separate fast-acting reliever for sudden symptoms. We currently offer the strength containing 5 mcg formoterol plus 200 mcg mometasone per actuation in packs of 2, 4, or 6 inhalers, allowing you to match the quantity to the expected duration of your treatment routine.

Who might discuss Dulera with a prescriber?

Deciding whether this particular combination and delivery style fits your situation usually comes down to several practical factors rather than the medicine name alone.

• People aged 12 years or older whose asthma requires a combination preventer rather than an inhaled corticosteroid alone.
• People who can manage the coordination required by a metered-dose aerosol rather than preferring a breath-activated dry powder device.
• People without a known allergy to mometasone, formoterol, or another component of the aerosol.
• People with diabetes or heart and circulation conditions, and people who are pregnant or breastfeeding, who may need closer monitoring or an individual discussion with their prescriber before starting.

You can also compare Dulera with other preventer options in our Asthma range if you are still weighing which delivery device and ingredient combination may suit you.

How does the mometasone-formoterol combination work?

Mometasone is an inhaled corticosteroid that reduces swelling, mucus production and sensitivity inside the airways over time, addressing the underlying inflammation of asthma rather than providing immediate relief. Formoterol relaxes the smooth muscle around the airways, helping them remain more open for about 12 hours per dose. Used together twice daily as directed, the two actions are intended to reduce flare-ups and keep airflow steadier between doses. In practice, consistent use is needed for the corticosteroid effect to build, while formoterol provides longer-lasting background airway opening rather than replacing an on-demand reliever. A separate fast-acting reliever therefore remains part of an asthma management plan.

Building a reliable routine with your inhaler

Because Dulera is a pressurised aerosol rather than a dry powder device, receiving a consistent dose depends on using a repeatable technique each time.

1. Shake the inhaler well. Prime it before first use and when restarting it after a period without use, following the product instructions for the required timing and number of sprays.
2. Breathe out fully, then begin a slow, deep breath in as you press down on the canister once.
3. Hold your breath for about 10 seconds before breathing out slowly.
4. Rinse your mouth with water and spit it out after each dose to help reduce the risk of oral thrush and hoarseness from the inhaled corticosteroid.
5. Store the inhaler at 20°C to 25°C. Excursions between 15°C and 30°C are permitted. Keep it with the mouthpiece down and away from temperatures above 49°C. The canister is pressurised and must not be punctured or incinerated.

Follow the prescribed number of actuations and do not change the routine or stop regular treatment without discussing it with the prescriber managing your asthma. If the inhaler technique is difficult, a pharmacist or other health professional can check how you coordinate pressing the canister with breathing in.

Choosing a pack size that matches your routine

Because our Dulera options all have the same strength per actuation, the catalogue choice is the number of inhalers rather than a choice between doses. We list packs of 2, 4, or 6 inhalers in Australian dollars. A smaller quantity may be appropriate when less supply is required, while a larger quantity can reduce how often someone following an established long-term maintenance plan needs another supply. The suitable quantity should still reflect the prescribed routine, expected duration of treatment and any review planned with the prescriber.

How soon might you notice a difference?

The formoterol component begins helping to open the airways within minutes of a dose, but the anti-inflammatory benefit of mometasone builds with consistent use. Improvement may develop over the first one to two weeks, although the timing and degree of response vary between people. Asthma control is therefore usually assessed over time rather than judged from a single dose.

Even if breathing feels better soon after use, Dulera is not intended to replace a fast-acting reliever for sudden breathlessness or an asthma flare-up. Worsening symptoms, a reliever that is becoming less effective, or a need to use the reliever more often should prompt medical advice. Severe or rapidly worsening breathing difficulty requires urgent medical care.

Safety priorities to weigh before you start

Combination preventers containing a long-acting beta2-agonist have several safety points worth understanding before beginning a regular routine.

• Dulera is a maintenance preventer, not a treatment for a sudden asthma attack or sudden tightening of the airways; a separate reliever inhaler is still needed for those situations.
• Local corticosteroid effects can include throat irritation, hoarseness and oral thrush. Rinsing your mouth after each dose helps reduce this risk.
• Prolonged use of higher corticosteroid doses can contribute to effects elsewhere in the body in some people, so ongoing treatment is generally reviewed periodically with a prescriber.
• Formoterol can occasionally increase heart rate or blood glucose, so people with heart conditions or diabetes may require closer monitoring.
• Established product information indicates that mometasone and formoterol have no or negligible influence on the ability to drive or use machinery for most people.

Seek urgent medical help for severe breathing difficulty, facial or throat swelling, or other signs of a serious allergic reaction. Suspected adverse reactions can also be reported to the Therapeutic Goods Administration.

Interactions and practical precautions that can change the choice

Several interactions are worth raising with a prescriber or pharmacist before starting, as they can affect which preventer or precautions are appropriate.

• Strong CYP3A4 inhibitors, such as ketoconazole, itraconazole and ritonavir, can increase exposure to the mometasone component.
• Beta-blockers may reduce formoterol's airway-opening effect and can sometimes trigger severe tightening of the airways.
• Potassium-lowering diuretics used with a beta2-agonist can further reduce potassium levels or increase effects on heart rhythm.
• Other medicines with similar stimulant effects, monoamine oxidase inhibitors and tricyclic antidepressants may increase heart-related effects when combined with formoterol.
• Pregnancy and breastfeeding require an individual discussion because the benefits of maintaining asthma control need to be weighed against the limited safety data for this exact combination.

Tell the prescriber or pharmacist about prescription medicines, non-prescription medicines and supplements. Do not add another long-acting beta2-agonist unless specifically directed, as this could duplicate the formoterol component.

Which alternative might suit a different situation?

Dulera is one of several combination preventer options. Differences usually involve the corticosteroid, dosing schedule, available strength, or delivery device rather than one product being universally better.

Symbicort combines budesonide with formoterol. It uses a similar long-acting bronchodilator with a different corticosteroid, which may be relevant when a prescriber considers previous response, the intended treatment plan, or device preference.

People who find a breath-activated dry powder device easier than coordinating a press-and-breathe aerosol may discuss Advair Diskus, which combines fluticasone and salmeterol in a different device format. A dry powder inhaler still requires an adequate inhalation effort and is not automatically easier for everyone.

Once-daily combination options also exist for people who want fewer scheduled doses in their day. Dosing frequency is only one consideration: the active ingredients, device technique, available strengths and the individual's asthma plan also need to fit.

Changing between these medicines is not simply a brand substitution because the ingredients, strengths, devices and instructions can differ. A prescriber or pharmacist should confirm how to make any change safely.

Availability and prescription context in Australia

Dulera under this brand and at the strength of 5 mcg formoterol fumarate plus 200 mcg mometasone furoate per actuation is not currently identified as an entry on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods. It is also not identified as a Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme-listed brand for this presentation. The Australian prescription classification of this exact unregistered Dulera presentation therefore cannot be confirmed from an ARTG entry.

This regulatory position is separate from any ordering process. If you rely on PBS-subsidised treatment, need a locally registered presentation, or require confirmation that this exact product fits an existing asthma plan, discuss those points with your GP or pharmacist before changing from your usual preventer.

Ordering and support from our pharmacy

We have supported customers since 2017. Our support team is available 24/7 by email, online chat and phone, and a pharmacist is available for medicine-related questions. We offer Dulera in quantities of 2, 4, or 6 inhalers, and our catalogue uses Australian dollars.

Before placing an order, check that the selected quantity matches the intended treatment period and prescribed routine. Our team can assist with general questions about the listed options and the ordering process. Questions about whether Dulera is clinically appropriate, how it should be prescribed, or whether treatment should change require individual advice from a prescriber or pharmacist.

Making the final decision

The central comparison for Dulera is whether this metered-dose aerosol, its twice-daily routine and its mometasone-formoterol combination fit the treatment plan better than an alternative device or combination. Consider your ability to coordinate a press-and-breathe inhaler, your previous response to preventers, the need for a separate reliever and any cautions involving pregnancy, diabetes, heart conditions, or interacting medicines.

If Dulera is appropriate for the established asthma plan, the remaining catalogue choice is between 2, 4, or 6 inhalers at the same available strength. The quantity should support the planned routine without being treated as a substitute for medical review or reliable inhaler technique.