Trelegy Ellipta vs Breo Ellipta

Trelegy Ellipta and Breo Ellipta are brand names for prescription drugs used for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma in adults.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPDs) are a group of diseases that cause long-term breathing problems and reduced airflow, like chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Asthma is an inflammatory disease that also inflames and constricts your lungs and airways. This can make it harder to breathe, can make your chest feel tight, and make you cough and wheeze.

Trelegy Ellipta and Breo Ellipta are not fast-acting medications and will not replace a rescue inhaler for sudden breathing issues. Examples of rescue inhalers include albuterol (Ventolin HFA, ProAir) and levalbuterol (Xopenex). Here we explain how they work, their similarities and differences and their side effects, and more. This should provide you with the basics to better understand your options.

What is Trelegy Ellipta?

Trelegy Ellipta is an FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) approved medication manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline (GSK). It is the first FDA-approved, single inhaler, triple therapy for once-daily maintenance treatment of both asthma and COPD in the U.S.

Trelegy Ellipta is an inhaled medication prescribed to adults to reduce the daily symptoms and the likelihood of flare-ups of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It helps to reduce inflammation and relax your airways and lungs, opening them up and making it easier for you to breathe. Trelegy combines three active ingredients called fluticasone furoate, umeclidinium, and vilanterol. They work together to help you breathe more easily and to reduce your asthma and COPD symptoms.

Fluticasone furoate is an inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) that reduces inflammation in your airways and lungs. It works by attaching to the surface of cells in your airways and lungs at sites called glucocorticoid receptors. This stimulates the receptors, making the cells produce less of the substances that trigger inflammation and more of the substances that reduce inflammation.

Umeclidinium is an anticholinergic bronchodilator that relaxes the muscles in your airways and lungs. It works by attaching to muscarinic receptors on the surface of your muscle cells. This blocks the receptors, stopping them from being stimulated, causing your muscle tissue to relax, and opening up your airways and lungs.

Vilanterol is classed as a long-acting beta-agonist (LABA). It also helps to relax the muscle tissue in your airways and lungs. It attaches to receptors on the surface of your muscle tissue called beta-adrenoreceptors, which stimulate the receptors, causing the muscle tissue to relax.

Trelegy Ellipta dosage

Trelegy Ellipta is available as an inhalation powder. The inhaler contains 2 foil blister strips of powder for oral inhalation. One strip contains fluticasone furoate 100 mcg per blister and the other contains umeclidinium/vilanterol 62.5 mcg/25 mcg per blister.

Trelegy Ellipta is a once-daily medication used to treat COPD, chronic bronchitis, and emphysema. Trelegy is not a fast-acting medication and will not replace a rescue inhaler for sudden breathing problems.

Please read the prescribing information provided with your medication and always speak with your healthcare provider about any changes to your dose so they can monitor and evaluate your condition.

What is Breo Ellipta?

Breo Ellipta is an FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) approved medication manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline (GSK). Breo Ellipta is for adults to manage chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases and asthma. It’s inhaled directly into your lungs and airways using a Breo Ellipta inhaler.

Breo Ellipta is used every day to open up your airways and make it easier to breathe, providing relief from the symptoms of COPD and asthma. It also reduces the chances and severity of sudden onset of severe symptoms, like asthma attacks.

Breo Ellipta contains two active ingredients, fluticasone furoate, and vilanterol. They work together to provide relief from COPD and reduce your chances of having an asthma attack. When taken regularly, Breo Ellipta can ease COPD and asthma symptoms, and reduce the number and severity of asthma attacks.

Breo Ellipta dosage

Breo Ellipta is available as an inhalation powder: The inhaler contains 2 foil blister strips of powder formulation for oral inhalation. One strip contains fluticasone furoate 100 or 200 mcg per blister and the other contains vilanterol 25 mcg per blister.

For the maintenance treatment of COPD use 1 inhalation of Breo Ellipta 100/25 once daily. For asthma use 1 inhalation of Breo Ellipta 100/25 or 200/25 once daily. Breo Ellipta is a once-daily medication used to treat various respiratory issues, such as chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Breo is not a rescue inhaler and should not be used in cases of a sudden breathing problem.

Please read the prescribing information provided with your medication and always speak with your healthcare provider about any changes to your dose so they can monitor and evaluate your condition.

Common side effects of Trelegy Ellipta and Breo Ellipta

The most common side effects of Trelegy Ellipta in clinical trials include:

• Headaches
• Sore throat, cough
• Stuffy or runny nose
• Muscle and joint pain
• Abdominal pain
• Nausea, vomiting
• Diarrhea, constipation
• Painful and frequent urination
• Fungal infections (candida/thrush) in your mouth and throat – this is less likely if you rinse your mouth out with water after taking your Trelegy Ellipta
• Increase in upper respiratory tract infections, like the common cold, the flu, and sinus infections
• Bronchitis
• Changes in taste

More serious side effects of Trelegy Ellipta include:

• Life-threatening allergic reactions including rashes, itching, swelling in your face, tongue, and throat, chest pain, and shortness of breath
• An increased risk of developing pneumonia if you also have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
• A weakened immune system
• Adrenal insufficiency
• Sudden worsening of your asthma symptoms, including asthma attacks (paradoxical bronchospasm)
• Increased blood pressure
• Fast and/or irregular heartbeat
• Osteoporosis
• An increased risk of eye problems, including glaucoma, cataracts, and blurred vision
• Slowed rates of growth in children

The most common side effects of Breo Ellipta in clinical trials include:

• Upper respiratory tract infections, bronchitis
• Influenza
• Fever, headaches
• Sinusitis
• A sore throat, throat pain, cough
• Oral thrush (candidiasis) infections
• Back pain, joint pain
• High blood pressure (hypertension)

More serious side effects of Breo Ellipta include

• Severe allergic reactions
• Immediate breathing difficulties
• Pneumonia

These aren’t all of the side effects Trelegy Ellipta or Breo Ellipta can cause. You can find more details in the patient leaflet that comes with your medication. If you have any concerns about side effects, talk to your healthcare provider for medical advice.

Trelegy Ellipta and Breo Ellipta drug interactions

Trelegy Ellipta can interact with other medications. These include:

• Anticholinergic – tiotropium, ipratropium, or aclidinium
• Long-acting beta agonists (LABA) – salmeterol, formoterol, arformoterol, olodaterol, or indacaterol
• Other medications that contain steroids
• Any medications taken to treat bacterial, viral, or fungal infections, including an HIV infection, such as ketoconazole, itraconazole, ritonavir, nelfinavir, or cobicistat

Breo Ellipta can interact with other medications. These include:

• Other medicines that contain a LABA (beta2-adrenergic agonist)
• Beta-blockers
• Diuretics
• Strong cytochrome P450 3A4 inhibitors, like ketoconazole
• Monoamine oxidase inhibitors
• Tricyclic antidepressants

Trelegy Ellipta and Breo Ellipta can interact with other medications. This can change how Trelegy Ellipta and Breo Ellipta and other medications work and can make side effects more likely. Tell your prescribing physician about all drugs you’re taking, including vitamins and dietary supplements.

Trelegy Ellipta and Breo Ellipta contraindications

You should not use Trelegy Ellipta if you:

• Are allergic to the active ingredient fluticasone furoate, umeclidinium, or vilanterol
• Are allergic to any of the other ingredients in Trelegy Ellipta
• Have a severe milk protein allergy
• Are taking another medication that contains long-acting beta-agonists (LABA) or an anticholinergic active ingredient
• Are under 18 years of age

Talk to your doctor before using Trelegy Ellipta if you:

• Have any heart problems
• Have any problems with your immune system
• Have any liver problems
• Have high blood pressure
• Suffer from seizures
• Have diabetes
• Have any eye problems, including cataracts or glaucoma
• Have osteoporosis
• Have any thyroid problems
• Have or have ever had any problems with your adrenal glands
• Have an active infection
• Have recently been around someone who has measles or chickenpox
• Have a mild to moderate milk protein allergy
• Have any prostate or bladder problems, or problems passing urine
• Are pregnant or are planning to become pregnant
• Are breastfeeding or are planning to breastfeed

You should not use Breo Ellipta if you:

• Are allergic to the active ingredients fluticasone furoate or vilanterol
• Are allergic to any of the other ingredients in Breo Ellipta
• Have a severe allergy to milk proteins
• Are under 18 years of age

Talk to your doctor before using Breo Ellipta if you:

• Have any heart problems
• Have high blood pressure
• Have any immune system problems
• Have a current viral, bacterial, fungal, or parasitic infection
• Have been exposed to measles or chickenpox
• Suffer from seizures
• Have any thyroid problems
• Have diabetes or high blood sugar
• Have any liver problems
• Have osteoporosis
• Have any eye problems, like glaucoma, cataracts, or increased pressure in your eye
• Are pregnant or are planning to get pregnant
• Are breastfeeding or are planning to breastfeed

Other drugs for COPD or Asthma

• Anoro Ellipta
• Symbicort
• Advair

Trelegy and Breo studies

Both Trelegy Ellipta and Breo Ellipta were compared in a study evaluating over 10,000 patients being treated for COPD. The endpoint of this study was the annual rate of moderate to severe exacerbations in patients with COPD.

Results showed that Trelegy Ellipta was more effective for reducing flare-ups and improving lung function than Breo Ellipta. Results also showed that patients who used Trelegy Ellipta had a forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) greater than those using Breo Ellipta. This improved lung function was maintained over a one-year period.

In another study, Trelegy Ellipta was shown to improve lung function when compared to Breo Ellipta for the treatment of asthma. Improvement in lung function was assessed by the change in forced expiratory volume over one second (FEV1) at 24 weeks of treatment.

If you have any concerns about Trelegy Ellipta or Breo Ellipta’s side effects, talk to your physician, or pharmacist for medical advice. Also inform your healthcare provider about any medical conditions, supplements, and over-the-counter meds you are taking. You are also encouraged to report side effects to the FDA: visit http://www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.