Adult Asthma Refills (Asthma Maintenance Therapy) in California
MD-only asthma refill visit by secure video in California, $49 flat-fee, no insurance required.
If you have diagnosed asthma and you are currently stable, TeleDirectMD can review your symptoms, current regimen, rescue inhaler use, triggers, and refill needs. When telehealth is appropriate, we can send refills electronically to your preferred local pharmacy in California. If you are having an asthma flare with concerning symptoms, we will direct you to urgent in-person care.
- $49 flat-fee visit
- MD-only evaluation and prescribing
- Maintenance inhaler and rescue inhaler refills when appropriate
- Trigger control and inhaler technique guidance
- Adults only, California-based care
Clinician note: TeleDirectMD care is MD-only and guideline-based. Your visit is reviewed by a physician (Parth Bhavsar, MD). For asthma, we focus on safe refills for stable adults and clear screening for flare severity, red flags, and when in-person evaluation is the safest next step.
Online Asthma Refills by California-Licensed MDs
- Refill review for controller and rescue inhalers
- Symptom control and rescue use screening
- Side effect review and technique coaching
- Return precautions for worsening breathing
Adults only (18+). You must be physically located in California at the time of your visit. Severe shortness of breath, trouble speaking full sentences, blue lips, confusion, chest pain, fainting, or oxygen saturation below 92% require urgent in-person care.
What Are Asthma Refills and When Are They Appropriate?
Asthma is a chronic inflammatory airway condition that can cause wheezing, cough, chest tightness, and shortness of breath. Many adults do well with consistent maintenance therapy, plus a rescue inhaler for breakthrough symptoms. Refills are often appropriate by telehealth when your diagnosis is established and you are currently stable.
During your TeleDirectMD video visit, the MD reviews your current medication list, symptom frequency, nighttime awakenings, exercise limitation, rescue inhaler frequency, recent steroid or urgent care use, and red flags. If your history suggests poor control or an acute flare, we will recommend urgent in-person evaluation.
Asthma Symptoms and Red Flags
Telehealth is best for stable refill requests. Use this table to understand what can be handled by video and what should be evaluated urgently in person.
| Finding | What it suggests | Telehealth appropriate? | Red flag requiring in-person care |
|---|---|---|---|
| Needs routine refill of a stable asthma regimen | Maintenance continuation, technique and trigger review | Often yes | New diagnosis or unclear history requiring in-person exam and spirometry |
| Rescue inhaler use 2 or fewer days per week | Often controlled asthma | Often yes | Rescue use daily or multiple times per day suggests poor control or flare |
| Nighttime symptoms 2 or fewer nights per month | Often controlled asthma | Often yes | Frequent nighttime symptoms suggest uncontrolled asthma |
| Mild wheeze with normal speech and no distress | Possible mild symptoms | Sometimes | Trouble speaking full sentences, severe distress, or rapid worsening |
| Shortness of breath at rest | Possible moderate to severe flare | No | Urgent care or ER evaluation recommended |
| Chest pain, fainting, confusion, blue lips | Severe illness possible | No | ER evaluation recommended |
| Oxygen saturation below 92% if you have a pulse oximeter | Hypoxemia | No | ER evaluation recommended |
| Recent hospitalization, ICU stay, or intubation for asthma | Higher-risk asthma | Often no | Lower threshold for urgent in-person evaluation and specialist follow-up |
What Else Can Look Like Asthma?
- Viral bronchitis or URI: cough and chest tightness with a short course, often after a cold.
- COPD: more common with significant smoking history, typically persistent symptoms.
- Allergic rhinitis or postnasal drip: chronic cough with nasal symptoms.
- GERD: reflux-related cough or throat symptoms.
- Cardiac causes: shortness of breath with exertion, swelling, or chest pain needs in-person evaluation.
When a Video Visit Is Appropriate vs. When to Go In-Person
When a Video Visit Is Appropriate
- Adult 18+ with a known asthma diagnosis
- Requesting continuation of an existing regimen (maintenance and or rescue inhaler)
- No severe shortness of breath at rest
- No chest pain, fainting, confusion, or blue lips
- No oxygen saturation below 92% if measured
- No rapidly worsening symptoms over hours
- Physically located in California at the time of the video visit
Red Flags Requiring In-Person or ER Care
- Trouble speaking full sentences due to shortness of breath
- Severe wheeze, marked chest tightness, or visible distress
- Blue lips, confusion, fainting, or severe fatigue
- Oxygen saturation below 92%
- Chest pain or pressure
- Needing rescue inhaler more often than every 4 hours with little relief
- Recent hospitalization or ICU for asthma, especially with current worsening symptoms
Asthma Refill Approach and Treatment Options
TeleDirectMD provides refill-focused asthma care for stable adults. The goal is safe continuation of appropriate controller therapy, reliable access to rescue medication, and clear next steps if control is not adequate.
What We Review in Your Refill Visit
- Symptom frequency, nighttime symptoms, and exercise limitation
- Rescue inhaler frequency and response
- Recent oral steroid use, urgent care visits, or ER visits
- Trigger and allergy control, smoke exposure, and reflux symptoms
- Inhaler technique, spacer use, and side effects
Medication Options Commonly Refilled for Stable Adults
| Medication | Dose | Duration | When used |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albuterol HFA | 90 mcg per actuation, 2 puffs every 4 to 6 hours as needed | As needed | Rescue inhaler for breakthrough wheeze, cough, or shortness of breath |
| Fluticasone propionate HFA | 110 mcg, 2 puffs twice daily | Maintenance | Inhaled corticosteroid controller for persistent asthma |
| Budesonide-formoterol | 160 mcg/4.5 mcg, 2 puffs twice daily | Maintenance | Combination controller for persistent asthma when appropriate |
| Fluticasone-salmeterol (DPI) | 250 mcg/50 mcg, 1 inhalation twice daily | Maintenance | Combination controller when an inhaled corticosteroid alone is not enough |
| Montelukast | 10 mg by mouth nightly | Maintenance | Selected adults with allergic triggers or exercise symptoms, after risk review |
| Spacer device | Use with metered-dose inhalers as directed | Ongoing | Improves medication delivery and reduces throat irritation |
TeleDirectMD does not prescribe controlled substances. Asthma flares with severe symptoms require urgent in-person care. If your asthma appears uncontrolled, we may recommend an in-person evaluation for lung exam and spirometry, plus a longer-term asthma action plan.
Home Care, Trigger Control, and Return to Work
Good asthma control is usually a combination of the right medications and trigger reduction. Many flares are driven by viral infections, allergens, smoke exposure, and reflux.
- Use controller inhalers consistently as prescribed, even when you feel well.
- Use a spacer with metered-dose inhalers if recommended.
- Rinse your mouth after inhaled corticosteroid use to reduce thrush risk.
- Reduce triggers when possible: smoke, strong odors, dust, pet dander, pollen, and cold air.
- If you are needing your rescue inhaler more often than usual, or symptoms are waking you at night, seek in-person care.
- Most adults can work if symptoms are controlled and they can safely perform duties without breathing distress.
What to Expect From Your TeleDirectMD Refill Visit
TeleDirectMD provides adult-only, MD-only virtual care by secure video. Visits typically last about 10 to 15 minutes and cost $49 as a flat cash fee with no insurance involvement. For asthma refills, the MD reviews your stability, control pattern, rescue use, and safety red flags.
If your request is appropriate for telehealth, we can send an electronic prescription to your preferred local pharmacy in California. If you are having a significant flare or you need diagnostic testing, we will explain why in-person care is recommended and what to do next.
Adults only. No controlled substances.
Asthma Refills FAQ
Can I get an asthma inhaler refill online in California?
Often, yes. If you have diagnosed asthma and you are currently stable, TeleDirectMD can review your regimen by video and send appropriate refills to your local California pharmacy.
Is a video visit safe if I am short of breath?
A refill-focused video visit is best for stable asthma. If you are short of breath at rest, struggling to talk in full sentences, or worsening rapidly, you should seek urgent in-person evaluation.
What information helps the MD safely refill my asthma medications?
Your current inhaler names and doses, how often you use your rescue inhaler, nighttime symptoms, recent urgent care or ER visits, and any side effects. Photos of medication labels can be helpful.
How often should I be using my rescue inhaler?
Frequent rescue use can signal poor control. If you are using a rescue inhaler daily or needing it more often than every 4 hours with little relief, seek urgent in-person care.
Can you refill my maintenance inhaler and my rescue inhaler together?
Yes, when appropriate. We commonly review and refill controller therapy plus a rescue inhaler for stable adults, along with technique and trigger guidance.
Do you prescribe oral steroids for asthma flares?
Significant flares often need an in-person lung exam and objective assessment. If your symptoms suggest a moderate to severe flare, we will recommend urgent in-person evaluation rather than relying on telehealth alone.
Do I need spirometry to get asthma refills?
Not always for short-term continuation in stable, known asthma. If your diagnosis is uncertain, symptoms are worsening, or control is poor, spirometry and an in-person exam are recommended.
Can you help with inhaler technique and spacer use?
Yes. Technique is a common reason asthma feels uncontrolled. We can review how you use your inhaler and whether a spacer device would improve medication delivery.
Is TeleDirectMD available throughout California for asthma refills?
Yes. As long as you are physically located in California at the time of your video visit, you can use TeleDirectMD for asthma refill evaluation. Prescriptions are sent electronically to your local California pharmacy when appropriate.
Can TeleDirectMD provide a work note for asthma symptoms?
TeleDirectMD can provide a brief work note when medically appropriate as part of the $49 visit.
When should I go to the ER for asthma?
Go urgently for severe breathing difficulty, trouble speaking full sentences, blue lips, confusion, fainting, chest pain, oxygen saturation below 92%, or symptoms not improving with rescue medication.