Are you one of those families racing to find new asthma medications as respiratory virus season approaches?

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health is trying to help patients and families access the best options for timely and effective asthma care — especially after two common asthma medications were discontinued.

The two inhaled treatments — Flovent HFA and Flovent Diskus, two of the most commonly used controller medications for asthma — have been discontinued by manufacturer GlaxoSmithKline.

Despite efforts across Massachusetts, many residents continue to experience the effects of the supply chain disruption this has caused. Medication shortages for alternative meds have been reported.

The situation has been made worse by variable prescription drug coverage, and steep out-of-pocket patient copays for some alternative medications.

“When there are large shifts in availability of key asthma medications, like we have seen surrounding the discontinuation of Flovent products, many families are impacted,” DPH Commissioner Robbie Goldstein said in a statement. “This is especially true for Black and Brown communities, which already experience a higher burden of asthma.

“With the respiratory virus season approaching, it is important for communities to come together to promote vaccination and prevent disease,” Goldstein added.

The fall and winter season typically brings an increase in asthma exacerbations in Massachusetts. During this time, circulating respiratory illnesses — such as flu, RSV, and COVID — can potentially trigger asthma symptoms or make ongoing symptoms worse.

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Controller medications, also known as daily maintenance medications, are a critical tool for managing asthma — reducing daily symptoms and decreasing the risk of asthma exacerbations, asthma-related emergency department visits, hospitalizations, and death.

While asthma fatalities are rare in Massachusetts, especially among children, patients with severe persistent asthma or uncontrolled asthma are at a higher risk of asthma-related death, particularly during seasonal spikes in asthma.

“A generic version of Flovent (fluticasone propionate) and other clinically appropriate alternative medications do exist,” DPH wrote in its advisory to patients and caregivers. “You may be prescribed a medication that you are not familiar with. The medication may be a different dose or a different inhaler device from what you are used to — talk with your provider if you have questions or concerns.”