Dosage for Dulera: What You Need to Know

If you have asthma, your doctor might suggest Dulera as a treatment option. It’s a prescription drug used to treat asthma in adults and some children.

Dulera contains two active ingredients*:

mometasone furoate, which belongs to the group of drugs called inhaled corticosteroids
formoterol fumarate dihydrate, which belongs to the group of drugs called long-acting beta2-agonists

Dulera comes in a metered-dose inhaler that delivers the drug into your lungs.

This article describes the dosages of Dulera, as well as its strengths and how to use it. To learn more about Dulera, including the drug’s side effects, see this in-depth article.

Note: This article covers Dulera’s usual dosages, which are provided by the drugmaker. But always use the Dulera dosage your doctor prescribes for you.

* An active ingredient is what makes a drug work.

This section describes the usual dosages of Dulera.

Note: The chart below highlights the basics of Dulera’s dosage. Be sure to read on for more detail.

Dulera strengths	Dosage for children ages 5 years to less than 12 years	Dosage for adults, and children ages 12 years and older
mometasone furoate/ formoterol fumarate dihydrate • 50 micrograms (mcg)/5 mcg • 100 mcg/5 mcg • 200 mcg/5 mcg	• two 50 mcg/5 mcg puffs twice per day	• two 100 mcg/5 mcg puffs twice per day, or • two 200 mcg/5 mcg puffs twice per day

What form does Dulera come in?

Dulera comes as a metered-dose inhaler. It’s a device with a canister that contains the drug and an actuator that helps deliver it into your lungs.

What strengths does Dulera come in?

Dulera comes in several strengths, such as:

50 micrograms (mcg) mometasone furoate/5 mcg formoterol fumarate dihydrate
100 mcg mometasone furoate/5 mcg formoterol fumarate dihydrate
200 mcg mometasone furoate/5 mcg formoterol fumarate dihydrate

You may see Dulera strengths shown as:

50 mcg/5 mcg
100 mcg/5 mcg
200 mcg/5 mcg

(The first number refers to the mometasone furoate strength.)

What are the usual dosages of Dulera?

Your dosage for Dulera depends on your age and the severity of your asthma. Your doctor will ultimately prescribe the lowest dosage of Dulera that provides the desired effect.

The information below describes dosages that are commonly used or recommended. But be sure to use the dosage your doctor prescribes for you. They’ll determine the best dosage to fit your needs.

Dosage for asthma in adults

The dosage of Dulera for treating asthma in adults depends on how severe your asthma is. Your doctor will prescribe two inhalations twice per day of one of the following strengths:

100 mcg/5 mcg
200 mcg/5 mcg

Your doctor may start you on the lower dose of 100 mcg/5 mcg. If your asthma symptoms aren’t managed with this dose after 2 weeks, they may increase it to 200 mcg/5 mcg. This is the maximum dosage of Dulera (two puffs of the 200 mcg/5 mcg strength twice per day).

To reduce your risk of Dulera side effects, your doctor will prescribe the lowest dose that manages your symptoms.

What’s the dosage of Dulera for children?

The dosage of Dulera for children depends on the age of the child.

Dosage for children ages 5 years to less than 12 years

The dosage of Dulera for children ages 5 years to less than 12 years is two 50 mcg/5 mcg-strength puffs twice daily. This is also the maximum dosage for this age range.

Dosage for children ages 12 years and older

The Dulera dosage for children ages 12 years and older is the same as for adults and depends on the severity of their asthma. They’ll be prescribed two puffs twice per day of the 100 mcg/5 mcg strength or the 200 mcg/5 mcg strength.

Their doctor will start them on the lower dose of 100 mcg/5 mcg of Dulera. If the child’s asthma symptoms aren’t managed with this dose after 2 weeks, their doctor may increase it to 200 mcg/5 mcg. This is the maximum dosage of Dulera (two puffs of the 200 mcg/5 mcg strength twice daily).

To reduce the child’s risk of Dulera side effects, their doctor will prescribe the lowest dose that manages their symptoms.

Is Dulera used long term?

Yes, Dulera is usually used as a long-term treatment. If you and your doctor determine that it’s safe and effective for your condition, you’ll likely use it long term.

Below are answers to some common questions about Dulera’s dosage.

How many puffs are there in the Dulera 200 mcg/5 mcg inhaler?

The Dulera 200 mcg/5 mg inhaler is available in two sizes. One size contains 60 puffs, the other size contains 120 puffs. If your dosage is two puffs twice per day, the 120-puff canister of Dulera would last you 30 days.

Each device has a counter that shows you how many puffs are remaining in the device. This helps you know how many doses are left so you don’t run out of medication.

Your doctor or pharmacist can explain how to use Dulera and how long each canister lasts.

Can Dulera be used for COPD? If so, what is the dose?

It’s possible. Dulera is currently not approved to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). But in some cases, your doctor may prescribe it off-label* for this condition if they feel you may benefit from the drug.

Your doctor will explain the benefits and dosage of Dulera for COPD if they prescribe it for you for this condition.

* With off-label use, a drug is prescribed for a condition it isn’t approved to treat.

The dosage of Dulera you’re prescribed may depend on your age and the type and severity of the condition you’re using it to treat.

Your doctor or pharmacist will provide instructions on how to use your Dulera inhaler. Use it exactly as directed. You’ll use it twice per day (about every 12 hours). Try to use it around the same time each day. Two puffs equal one dose, so you’ll need to take 4 puffs daily.

Do not remove the canister from the actuator device. This could change how the device works.

You’ll inhale Dulera into your lungs using the device as instructed. Wait 30 seconds between each puff. Rinse your mouth with water after each dose (two puffs) of Dulera. Be sure to spit out the water. Do not swallow it. This will help lower your risk for a mouth infection called oral thrush.

You can watch this video to learn more about how to use your Dulera inhaler. If you still have questions, ask your pharmacist to show you how to use the device properly to get your full dose of medication.

Accessible drug containers and labels

Some pharmacies provide medication labels that:

have large print
use braille
feature a code you can scan with a smartphone to change the text to audio

Your doctor or pharmacist may be able to recommend pharmacies that offer these accessibility features if your current pharmacy doesn’t.

Use Dulera exactly as directed by your doctor to manage your asthma symptoms.

Each dose of Dulera lasts 12 hours. If you miss your regular dose, skip it and continue with your next regularly scheduled dose. Do not double your dose of Dulera to make up for a missed dose. This could increase your risk of side effects.

If you need help remembering to take your dose of Dulera on time, try using a medication reminder. This can include setting an alarm or downloading a reminder app on your phone.

Do not use more Dulera than your doctor prescribes as this can lead to serious side effects.

Symptoms of overdose

Symptoms caused by an overdose can include:

chest pain
dizziness
dry mouth
fast heart rate or changes in heart rhythm
tiredness
headache
changes in blood pressure (high or low blood pressure)
muscle cramps
nervousness
seizures
shakiness

What to do in case you inhale too much Dulera

Call your doctor right away if you think you’ve inhaled too much Dulera. You can also call 800-222-1222 to reach America’s Poison Centers or use its online resource. But if you have severe symptoms, immediately call 911 (or your local emergency number) or go to the nearest emergency room.

The sections above describe the usual dosages provided by Dulera’s drugmaker. If your doctor recommends this medication for you, they’ll prescribe the dosage that’s right for you.

Remember, you should not change your dosage of Dulera without your doctor’s recommendation. Only use this drug exactly as prescribed. Talk with your doctor if you have questions or concerns about your current dosage. Here are some examples of questions you may want to ask:

Would a higher dosage of Dulera increase my risk of side effects?
Does my Dulera dosage need to change if I take other medications for asthma?
Can I increase my Dulera dosage if it’s not managing my symptoms?

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Disclaimer: Austra Health has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.

Last medically reviewed on April 13, 2023