All About Breo Ellipta

Like most drugs, Breo Ellipta may cause mild or serious side effects. The lists below describe some of the more common side effects that Breo Ellipta may cause. These lists don’t include all possible side effects.

Keep in mind that side effects of a drug can depend on:

• your age
• other health conditions you have
• other medications you take

Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you more about the potential side effects of Breo Ellipta. They can also suggest ways to help reduce side effects.

Mild side effects

Here’s a list of some of the mild side effects that Breo Ellipta can cause. To learn about other mild side effects, talk with your doctor or pharmacist, or read Breo Ellipta’s prescribing information. Side effects might differ slightly between people with COPD and people with asthma.

Mild side effects of Breo Ellipta that have been reported include:

• upper respiratory infection such as the common cold
• headache
• yeast infections of the mouth or throat
• back pain
• a cough
• mouth pain
• joint pain
• fever
• hoarseness
• sore throat
• mild allergic reaction*

Mild side effects of many drugs may go away within a few days to a couple of weeks. But if they become bothersome, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Allergic reaction” section below.

Serious side effects

Serious side effects from Breo Ellipta can occur, but they aren’t common. If you have serious side effects from Breo Ellipta, call your doctor right away. But if you think you’re having a medical emergency, you should call 911 or your local emergency number.

Serious side effects of Breo Ellipta that have been reported include:

• increased risk of serious infection, such as pneumonia or measles
• heart problems, such as high blood pressure or heart rhythm changes
• high or low cortisol levels
• low bone density, which can raise your risk of fractures
• trouble breathing after inhaling a dose
• glaucoma
• cataracts
• high blood sugar
• low potassium levels
• severe allergic reaction*

* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Allergic reaction” section below.

Allergic reaction

Some people may have an allergic reaction to Breo Ellipta.

Symptoms of a mild allergic reaction can include:

• skin rash
• itchiness
• flushing (temporary warmth, redness, or deepening of skin color)

A more severe allergic reaction is rare but possible. Symptoms of a severe allergic reaction can include swelling under your skin, usually in your eyelids, lips, hands, or feet. They can also include swelling of your tongue, mouth, or throat, which can cause trouble breathing.

Call your doctor right away if you have an allergic reaction to Breo Ellipta. But if you think you’re having a medical emergency, call 911 or your local emergency number.

Your doctor will recommend the dosage of Breo Ellipta that’s right for you. Below are commonly used dosages, but always take the dosage your doctor prescribes.

Form and strengths

Breo Ellipta comes as an inhaler. The inhaler comes with blister packs that have your dose of powder medication in them.

Breo Ellipta is available in three strengths:

• fluticasone furoate 50 micrograms (mcg)/vilanterol 25 mcg
• fluticasone furoate 100 mcg/vilanterol 25 mcg
• fluticasone furoate 200 mcg/vilanterol 25 mcg

Recommended dosages

You’ll take one dose of Breo Ellipta daily. Before you start treatment, your doctor will determine the best dosage for you.

If you’re using Breo Ellipta for chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD), the typical dosage is 100 mcg/25 mcg inhaled once daily.

If you’re an adult using Breo Ellipta for asthma, you may be prescribed a dose of 100 mcg/25 mcg inhaled once daily or 200 mcg/25 mcg inhaled once daily.

For children ages 12–17 years, the recommended dosage of Breo Ellipta for asthma is 100 mcg/25 mcg inhaled once daily.

For children ages 5–11 years, the recommended dosage for asthma is 50 mcg/25 mcg inhaled once daily.

To learn more about Breo Ellipta’s dosage, see this article.

How to use

Your doctor will explain how to use Breo Ellipta. They’ll also explain how much to take and how often. Be sure to follow your doctor’s instructions.

You’ll inhale a dose of Breo Ellipta once daily as directed by your doctor. If you’d like step-by-step instructions on how to use Breo Ellipta, see the drug’s prescribing information.

Questions about using Breo Ellipta

Below are some common questions about using Breo Ellipta.

• Should I take Breo Ellipta with food? The manufacturer of Breo Ellipta doesn’t specify whether the drug should be taken with or without food. If you have questions about how to take your dose of Breo Ellipta, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
• Is there a best time of day to use Breo Ellipta? No, there’s not a best time of day to inhale your dose of Breo Ellipta. But taking your dose around the same time each day helps keep a steady level of the drug in your body. This helps the drug work effectively.
• What if I miss a dose of Breo Ellipta? If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. But you should not take more than one dose of Breo Ellipta per day. Doing so can raise your risk of side effects. If you miss a dose of Breo Ellipta and you’re not sure when to take your next dose, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
• Will I need to use Breo Ellipta long term? Yes, if Breo Ellipta is working to manage your symptoms of asthma or COPD, you’ll likely use the drug long term.

Overdose

Do not take more Breo Ellipta than your doctor prescribes. Using more than this can lead to side effects.

Symptoms of overdose

Symptoms caused by an overdose can include:

• high or low blood pressure
• heart rhythm problems
• nervousness
• headache
• muscle cramps
• dry mouth
• nausea
• high cortisol level
• chest pain
• dizziness
• fatigue (low energy)
• insomnia (trouble sleeping)
• high blood sugar
• low potassium level
• metabolic acidosis (too much acid in the blood)
• seizures

What to do in case you take too much Breo Ellipta

Call your doctor if you think you’ve taken too much Breo Ellipta. 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.

Whether you have health insurance or not, cost may be a factor when you’re considering Breo Ellipta. What you’ll pay for Breo Ellipta may depend on several things, such as your treatment plan and the pharmacy you use.

Here are a few things to consider regarding cost:

• Cost information and savings coupons: You can visit Optum Perks* to get price estimates of what you’d pay for Breo Ellipta when using coupons from the site.
• Savings program: If you have questions about how to pay for your prescription, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

You can also check out this article to learn more about saving money on prescriptions.

* Optum Perks is a sister site of Healthline. Optum Perks coupons cannot be used with any insurance copays or benefits.

Other drugs are available that can treat your condition. If you’d like to explore an alternative to Breo Ellipta, talk with your doctor. They can tell you about other medications that might work well for you.

The following drugs are similar to Breo Ellipta:

• budesonide/formoterol (Breyna, Symbicort)
• fluticasone/salmeterol (Advair, Wixela)
• umeclidinium/vilanterol (Anoro Ellipta)
• mometasone/formoterol (Dulera)

Below is important information you should consider before using Breo Ellipta.

Interactions

Taking a drug with certain medications, vaccines, foods, and other things can affect how the drug works. These effects are called interactions.

Breo Ellipta can interact with several other medications. It can also interact with certain supplements as well as certain foods.

Before taking Breo Ellipta, talk with your doctor and pharmacist. Tell them about all prescription, over-the-counter, and other drugs you take. Also tell them about any vitamins, herbs, and supplements you use. Sharing this information can help you avoid potential interactions.

Drug interactions

Below is a list of medications that can interact with Breo Ellipta. This list does not contain all drugs that may interact with Breo Ellipta. If you have questions about drug interactions that may affect you, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Breo Ellipta and alcohol

Alcohol is not known to interact with Breo Ellipta. But it’s important to note that drinking large amounts of alcohol can weaken your immune system over time. Having a weakened immune system can raise your risk of serious infection, such as pneumonia.

Because Breo Ellipta can also increase your risk of serious infection, including pneumonia, it may be best to avoid drinking large amounts of alcohol while using this medication.

If you drink alcohol, talk with your doctor to learn how much, if any, is safe to consume during your Breo Ellipta treatment.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

It’s not known whether it may be safe to use Breo Ellipta during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.

If you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, or planning to become pregnant or breastfeed, talk with your doctor before starting Breo Ellipta treatment.

Warnings

Breo Ellipta can sometimes cause harmful effects in people who have certain conditions. This is known as a drug-condition interaction. Other factors may also affect whether Breo Ellipta is a good treatment option for you.

Talk with your doctor about your health history before you take Breo Ellipta. Be sure to tell them if any of the following factors apply to you:

• worsening symptoms of asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
• heart disease or high blood pressure
• seizure disorder
• diabetes or high blood sugar
• liver problems
• thyroid problems
• osteoporosis
• glaucoma or cataracts
• current infection
• milk allergy
• previous allergic reaction to Breo Ellipta
• pregnancy
• breastfeeding

Breo Ellipta is used to prevent symptoms of chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD) and asthma. See below for details.

COPD. For this use, Breo Ellipta can be used in adults. COPD is a lung condition that causes swelling of the airways. People with COPD may have symptoms such as trouble breathing, coughing, and wheezing.

Asthma. For this use, Breo Ellipta can be used in adults and in children ages 5 years and older. Asthma is a lung condition caused by swelling of the airways. People with asthma may experience trouble breathing, chest tightness, and coughing. In addition, some people with asthma experience asthma attacks.

It’s important to note that Breo Ellipta is not meant to be used as a rescue inhaler for sudden breathing problems. If you have COPD or asthma and have trouble breathing, your doctor may prescribe a rescue medication for you, such as albuterol (Ventolin HFA, ProAir).

It’s not known exactly how Breo Ellipta works to treat asthma or COPD. But it’s believed that one of its active ingredients,* fluticasone furoate, works by decreasing swelling in your airways. Vilanterol, the other active ingredient, is believed to relax the airways, which helps you to breathe easier.

* An active ingredient is what makes a drug work.

If you have questions about taking Breo Ellipta, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. Questions you may want to ask include:

• Can my dose of Breo Ellipta be increased if the drug isn’t working for my condition?
• What other treatment options are available if I can’t afford Breo Ellitpa?
• How can I manage side effects that I experience from Breo Ellipta?
• What should I do if I become pregnant while I’m taking Breo Ellipta?

To learn more about Breo Ellipta, see these articles:

• All About Breo Ellipta’s Dosage
• Side Effects of Breo Ellipta: What You Need to Know

To get information on different conditions and tips for improving your health, subscribe to any of Healthline’s newsletters. You may also want to check out the online communities at Bezzy. It’s a place where people with certain conditions can find support and connect with others.

Disclaimer: Healthline 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.