Breo Ellipta inhalation powder contains a combination of fluticasone and vilanterol. Fluticasone is a steroid that prevents the release of substances in the body that cause inflammation. Vilanterol is a bronchodilator that works by relaxing muscles in the airways to improve breathing.Breo Ellipta is a once-daily combination medicine used in adults with asthma or COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), to improve symptoms and prevent bronchospasm or asthma attacks.In people with COPD, Breo Ellipta is for long-term treatment. In people with asthma, this medicine is for short-term treatment until symptoms are well-controlled with with other medicines.Vilanterol when used alone may increase the risk of death in people with asthma. However, this risk is not increased when fluticasone and vilanterol are used together as a combination product. There are currently no generic alternatives to Breo Ellipta.

To use the inhaler:

• This medicine comes in a foil tray. Peel back the lid to open the tray.

• Slide the inhaler cover down until you hear a clicking sound. The inhaler is now ready to use. Do not open the cover of the inhaler until you are ready to use it. If you open and close the inhaler without inhaling the dose, you will lose the medicine.

• Put the mouthpiece between your lips and close your lips around the mouthpiece. Do not block the air vent with your fingers.

• Breathe in through your mouth as deeply as you can until you have taken a full deep breath. Do not breathe through your nose.

• Hold your breath and remove the mouthpiece from your mouth. Continue holding your breath as long as you can up to 3 or 4 seconds before breathing out slowly. This gives the medicine time to settle in your airways and lungs.

• When you are finished, you may clean the mouthpiece with a dry tissue, if needed, before closing the inhaler cover.

• The inhaler has a window that shows the number of doses that are left. This tells you when you are getting low on medicine. When the inhaler has less than 10 doses left, the left half of the counter will show up in red to remind you to refill your prescription.

Rinsing your mouth with water after each dose may help prevent hoarseness, throat irritation, and infection in the mouth. However, do not swallow the water after rinsing.

You should not use Breo Ellipta if you are allergic to fluticasone, vilanterol, or milk proteins.

Fluticasone can weaken your immune system, making it easier for you to get an infection or worsening an infection you already have or have recently had. Tell your doctor about any illness or infection you have had within the past several weeks.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant. It is not known whether Breo Ellipta will harm an unborn baby. However, having untreated or uncontrolled asthma during pregnancy may cause complications such as low birth weight, premature birth, or eclampsia (dangerously high blood pressure that can lead to medical problems in both mother and baby). The benefit of treating asthma may outweigh any risks to the baby.

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction to Breo Ellipta: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Call your doctor at once if you have:

• wheezing, choking, or other breathing problems after using this medicine

• chest pain, fast or pounding heartbeats, pounding in your neck or ears

• sores or white patches in your mouth and throat, pain when swallowing

• fever, chills, cough with yellow or green mucus

• blurred vision, tunnel vision, eye pain, or seeing halos around lights.

• low potassium level - leg cramps, constipation, irregular heartbeats, fluttering in your chest, increased thirst or urination, numbness or tingling, muscle weakness or limp feeling 

Common Breo Ellipta side effects may include:

• headache, back pain, joint pain

• runny or stuffy nose, sore throat, cough

• a hoarse voice.

What other drugs will affect Breo Ellipta?

Many drugs can interact with fluticasone and vilanterol. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible interactions are listed here. Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any medicine you start or stop using.

Where should I keep my medicine?

Store at room temperature between 15 and 30 degrees C (59 and 86 degrees F). Store in a dry place away from direct heat or sunlight. Throw away 6 weeks after you remove the inhaler from the foil tray, or after the dose indicator reads 0, whichever comes first. Throw away any unopened packages after the expiration date.