What is Breo Ellipta prescribed for?

Breo Ellipta is often prescribed for long-term maintenance treatment of Bronchospasm, which is associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a chronic inflammatory lung disease that impairs the airflow out of your lungs. Symptoms include breathing difficulty, cough, mucus (sputum) production and wheezing.

Bronchitis and Emphysema are the two most common conditions that contribute to COPD.

When you have Bronchitis, your bronchial tubes become inflamed and narrowed, and your lungs produce more mucus, which can further block the narrowed tubes. You develop a chronic cough trying to clear your airways.

Emphysema occurs when the walls between the air sacs in your lungs become damaged and lose their elasticity. As the walls of the air sacs also sustain damage, instead of many tiny air sacs, there are fewer but larger ones that reduce the amount of gas exchange.

Because Breo Ellipta is a long-term maintenance medication, it can end up being costly. You can buy Breo Ellipta online at My Drug Center at an affordable price. With proper management, most people with COPD can achieve symptom control and quality of life, as well as reduced risk of other associated conditions.

How does Breo Ellipta work?

Breo Ellipta is indicated for long-term, once-daily treatment to reduce exacerbations in COPD patients. Breo Ellipta is a medication that comes in the form of inhalation powders for oral inhalation and contains the active ingredients Fluticasone/Vilanterol. When the Fluticasone/Vilanterol dosage is inhaled, it is taken straight into the lungs, where it blocks the receptors that are found on the muscle surrounding your airways. This action stops acetylcholine from acting on the receptors that cause the muscle to narrow and make it difficult to breathe.

Before taking your prescribed Breo Ellipta dosageread all the instructions that was provided by your pharmacist. This is important so that you understand how to use the inhaler and blister pack to administer the right dose of medication. Take one Breo Ellipta dosage, once a day.

This medication is not meant for quick relief from asthma attacks. You should also have a rescue inhaler on hand. Allow at least a minute between use of multiple inhalers and rinse your mouth with water to prevent infections. Never swallow the rinse water.

Make sure you take Breo Ellipta at the same time each day to create a routine for yourself and to ensure an even spread of medication in your system. For optimal results take this medication on a regular basis. Do not change or increase your dose. You should continue taking this medication even if you feel well.

This medication may contain medical and non medical ingredients that could cause an allergic reaction. Consult with your doctor about any known allergies before taking Breo Ellipta. Speak with your doctor about any known medical conditions relating to high blood pressure, bone loss, depression, diabetes, eye problems, heart problems, recent infections, liver problems, overactive thyroid, and seizures. Tell your doctor about any current medications or supplementation to avoid interactions with Breo Ellipta.

Keep track which inhalers are used more often in case there is a worsening of COPD symptoms. Speak with your doctor if you find that you need your rescue inhaler more often.

You may experience irregular heart rhythm (QT prolongation) while taking Breo Ellipta. Risk of QT prolongation is increased with salt deficiencies and use of diuretics can also increase this risk.

Long term use of croticosteroids can cause your body to have challenges responding to physical stress. You should tell your doctor or dentist that you are using this medication before any surgery, operations, or any procedures. If this medication is required for long term use have an ID bracelet or documentation. This can help identify the use of this medication in cases where you might be unable to speak or explain your condition. 

While taking Breo Ellipta your body may become more prone to infections. Washing your hands and practising good hygiene can help prevent the spread of infections or other diseases. Avoid coming into contact with transmittable infections like the flu, measles or chickenpox. 

Side effects for Breo Ellipta are: upper respiratory tract infection, runny nose, sore throat, headache, oral candidiasis (thrush in your mouth or throat), back pain, pneumonia, bronchitis, sinus infection, cough, mouth pain, joint pain, influenza, sore throat, and fever.

If any side effects become unmanageable speak with your doctor or pharmacist for help in managing any side effects. For any serious side effects that occur speak with your doctor right away for further treatment options.

What is Breo Ellipta?

Breo Ellipta is a combination medication containing two active ingredients, which are inhaled through an Ellipta.  An Ellipta is a type of inhaler. The Breo Ellipta is used for the maintenance of COPD and asthma, two long-term respiratory conditions, including bronchitis and emphysema. The medication is manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline and was approved for use in 2013. It contains a corticosteroid called Fluticasone and a long-acting beta-agonist called Vilanterol, containing 100mcg/25mcg or 200mcg/25mcg of each; internationally, these measurements are measured as 92mcg/22mcg and 184mcg/22mcg. Another international difference is that Breo Ellipta is known as the Relvar Ellipta in other areas of the world. Though there is no generic alternative available for Breo Ellipta yet, you can find the brand-name medication for a reduced price at My Drug Center, available in both strengths. Breo Ellipta is a prescription medication and, therefore will require a prescription to obtain.

How to use Breo Ellipta?

First off, it is important to use this medication exactly the way your doctor has directed you to; this includes how often you use the inhaler. Breo is a powder that comes with a special inhaler, called an Ellipta inhaler. The Ellipta inhaler is preloaded with blister packs that contain the fixed amount of Breo powder, a combination of Fluticasone and Vilanterol. Each time the device cover is opened, a blister of Breo will be loaded into the inhaler. If you open then close the inhaler cover without inhaling, you will lose the dose; do not open the cover until you are ready to take your dose. When you are ready to take your dose, to use Breo Ellipta, slide the cover on the inhaler down until you hear a click, breathe out gently before placing the mouthpiece in your mouth; deeply breathe in and hold for 5 seconds. To avoid an oral yeast infection, rinse your mouth thoroughly with water after each use; also be sure not to block the vent on the device with your hand when taking your dose.  Breo Ellipta is typically only needed once per day and, for best results, it should be used at the same time each day; this will help you build a routine and reduces the chance of you forgetting to take your dose while also ensuring a consistent amount of medication remains in the system. If you are still unsure how to use this medication, it is recommended to consult with your doctor and ask any questions you may have before starting treatment.

How many puffs are in Breo Ellipta?

The inhaler has been designed to hold enough medicine to last for 1 month. Since this medication is only used once per day, a 1 month supply would equal to 30 doses; therefore, each Breo Ellipta contains 30 doses. You may see the quantity “60” displayed on your prescription or other printouts; this refers to the number of blisters inside the inhaler, not the number of doses.  The Ellipta device will have a dose counter which provides you with a visual indication of how many doses are available in your device. When you use the Ellipta for the first time, it should state 30. The dose counter can help you keep track of how many puffs you have left.

How long does it take Breo Ellipta to work?

Since each patient has many unique personal factors, the amount of time it takes for the medication to begin working will likely vary between each patient. The factors may include age, weight, gender, diet, other medical conditions or medications, genetic make-up, and many others. These factors influence the way your body responds to medication, including how quick the onset of action occurs. Additionally, you may begin to notice slight improvement before you feel the full clinical benefit of the medication. Generally, it doesn’t take too long for improvement to begin, as some patients report feeling some relief within the first few days of treatment.  Clinical improvement can be gradual – going back to those factors mentioned previously – and may take 3-4 weeks for major improvement to be seen. In more rare cases, it may take several weeks for clinical improvement. Clinical improvement is typically achieved quickest when taken exactly as directed and taken at the same time each day. If after several weeks, your condition does not improve or gets worse, it is recommended to consult with your doctor.

How much does Breo Ellipta cost?

Breo Ellipta is an expensive medication in general, but especially for those without insurance. In the United States, brand-name product isn’t generally covered by Medicare, so the vast majority of patients are stuck paying the entire amount. However, the price of most medications, including Breo Ellipta, will fluctuate depending on the location of the pharmacy. For example, international prices at My Drug Center can be found for much lower than prices found in the United States. At My Drug Center, we offer the brand-name product for $119.00 when you buy 30 doses (1 Ellipta). This price is much lower when compared to local pharmacies in the United States; a supply of 30 doses would cost close to 3.5 times as much.

How does Breo Ellipta work?

Breo Ellipta contains two active ingredients which work towards treating your condition. The first active ingredient, known as Fluticasone, works by reducing the inflammation of the airways; when the airways are inflamed (swollen), there is very little room for air to flow, which results in COPD or asthma symptoms. By reducing the swelling of the airways, it helps to widen and open them so air can flow more easily to help prevent symptoms. Fluticasone belongs to the corticosteroid drug class and helps to widen airways by stimulating the glucocorticoid receptors in the body. The second active ingredient, known as Vilanterol, works by relaxing the muscles in the airways; when muscles in the airway become relaxed, they widen, which further enhances the amount of air that can flow through to the lungs. Vilanterol belongs to the drug class of long-acting beta-agonists; it helps to relax the muscles by simulating a certain enzyme (adenylyl cyclase) which helps with the production of cyclic AMP (a second messenger with many important biological processes). An increase in cyclic AMP levels results in the relaxation of the muscles in the airways.

How long has Breo Ellipta been on the market?

GlaxoSmithKline announced that the NDA (new drug application) for Breo Ellipta was accepted in 2012, which is a comprehensive document that is required to be submitted in order to market a new drug. It took about a year before a decision was made; approval to market Breo Ellipta for the treatment of COPD was given to GSK in 2013. Just a few years later, in 2015, the approved uses of Breo Ellipta were expanded to also treat asthma in patients 18 or older. Breo Ellipta is one of the older Ellipta inhalers, as Trelegy Ellipta was approved only in 2017 and Incruze Ellipta in 2014; Anoro Ellipta was approved around the same time as Breo Ellipta (2013). However, Breo Ellipta is newer than many other types of inhalers, such as Advair, Symbicort, Qvar, or Ventolin.