Yes, there is an FDA-approved generic for Symbicort. The first generic version, called Breyna, was approved in 2022 and is manufactured by Viatris (formerly Mylan Pharmaceuticals). It contains the same two active ingredients as brand-name Symbicort: budesonide, a corticosteroid that reduces inflammation in the lungs, and formoterol, a long-acting bronchodilator that opens the airways to relieve wheezing, coughing, and shortness of breath.
What the Generic Costs
The pricing picture for generic Symbicort is unusual. Without insurance, a Breyna inhaler (80 mcg/4.5 mcg strength) runs about $280 for a 10.3-gram canister, while the brand-name Symbicort (160 mcg/4.5 mcg strength) costs roughly $237 for a similar-sized canister. These are cash prices and will vary by pharmacy, but the generic is not automatically cheaper at the register the way most generics are. Manufacturer coupons, discount cards, and insurance coverage can shift the math significantly in either direction.
Insurance May Not Cover the Generic
Here’s what catches many people off guard: some insurance plans, including certain Medicare Part D and Medicare Advantage plans, cover brand-name Symbicort but do not cover the generic budesonide/formoterol inhaler. Humana, for example, has explicitly stated that it covers Symbicort but not the generic version on its Medicare formularies. Even if you request a coverage exception, the cost share for the generic may end up the same as or higher than Symbicort.
This means you can’t assume your pharmacist will simply swap in the generic and save you money. Before switching, check your plan’s formulary or call your insurer to confirm which version is covered and at what tier. If your plan covers brand-name Symbicort at a preferred tier, switching to the generic could actually increase your out-of-pocket cost.
Can Your Pharmacist Substitute It Automatically?
For a pharmacist to swap a brand-name drug for its generic without calling your doctor, the FDA must rate the generic as therapeutically equivalent, typically with an “AB” rating. An AB-rated generic has been tested and confirmed to work the same way in the body as the brand-name version. Generic budesonide/formoterol inhalers that carry an AB rating to Symbicort can be substituted at the pharmacy counter in most states, as long as your prescriber hasn’t written “dispense as written” on the prescription.
If two generics carry different AB sub-ratings (for instance, AB1 versus AB2), they can each be substituted for the brand but not necessarily for each other. In practice, with only one generic on the market right now, this is unlikely to be an issue for most patients.
Differences Between Breyna and Symbicort
Both inhalers deliver the same combination of medications in the same type of pressurized metered-dose inhaler. The active ingredients, their roles, and the conditions they treat (asthma and COPD) are identical. You prime and use the device the same way: shake, exhale, press and inhale, then rinse your mouth afterward to reduce the chance of oral thrush, a common side effect of inhaled corticosteroids.
The inactive ingredients, such as the propellant and suspension agents, can differ slightly between the brand and generic. For most people, this makes no noticeable difference. Occasionally, someone may find that taste, throat feel, or spray force varies enough to be worth mentioning to their doctor.
What to Do if You’re Considering the Switch
Start by checking your insurance formulary. If the generic is covered at a lower tier than Symbicort, the switch could save you real money each month. If your plan doesn’t cover the generic, or covers it at a higher cost, sticking with the brand name is the more practical choice for now.
If you’re paying cash without insurance, compare prices at several pharmacies using a discount tool like GoodRx or RxSaver, since the sticker price for both versions varies widely between pharmacies. Some pharmacies price the generic well below the brand, even if the national averages are close. Ask your pharmacist directly what each version would cost you before filling the prescription.