Doctors are warning asthma patients about a big change coming to inhalers.

Starting Jan. 1, the asthma inhaler Flovent, made by Manufacturer GSK, will disappear from pharmacy shelves. The manufacturer says it will instead be making an "authorized generic" version, which is identical.

Physicians say the generic version will work just as well. However it isn't covered as widely by insurers.

Doctors are urging patients to take action now to get new prescriptions if needed -- especially since it's respiratory virus season.