Breo Ellipta (fluticasone furoate/vilanterol trifenatate) is a brand-name prescription medication. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved it to treat the following conditions in adults:
Breo Ellipta comes in a powder inhaler. It contains two drugs. The first drug is fluticasone furoate, which belongs to a class of drugs called inhaled corticosteroids (ICSs) that helps decrease inflammation (swelling) in your airways. The second drug is vilanterol trifenatate which is a long-acting beta2-adrenergic agonist (LABA) that helps relax muscles in the airway.
Breo Ellipta is a brand-name medication. There’s currently no generic version of Breo Ellipta.
* For this use, Breo Ellipta isn’t a treatment for an asthma attack that’s already started.
Dosage summary
The following chart summarizes Breo Ellipta’s dosage. Your doctor will determine the dosage that’s best for you.
| Condition being treated | Strengths and form | Starting dose | Typical dosage |
| COPD | 100 microgram (mcg) fluticasone furoate/25 mcg vilanterol powder for oral inhalation | 100 mcg/25 mcg | once per day at the same time each day |
| asthma | 100 mcg or 200 mcg fluticasone furoate/25* mcg vilanterol powder for oral inhalation | varies based on patient factors† | once per day at the same time each day |
* This dosage is sometimes written as 100/25 or 200/25.
† For details, see the “Factors that can affect your dosage” section below.
For information about the dosage of Breo Ellipta, including its strengths and how to take the drug, keep reading. For a comprehensive look at Breo Ellipta, see this article.
Below is information about the typical dosages of Breo Ellipta. Be sure to always take the Breo Ellipta dosage that your doctor recommends.
Breo Ellipta form
Breo Ellipta comes in a powder inhaler.
Breo Ellipta strengths
Breo Ellipta comes in two strengths:
- 100 micrograms (mcg) fluticasone furoate/25 mcg vilanterol
- 200 mcg fluticasone furoate/25 mcg vilanterol
Typical dosages
Your doctor will ultimately prescribe the lowest dosage that provides the desired effect. There’s only one dosage for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and there are two possible dosages for asthma.
The following information describes Breo Ellipta dosages that are commonly used or recommended. However, be sure to take the dosage your doctor prescribes for you. Your doctor will determine the best dosage to fit your needs.
Breo Ellipta dosage for COPD
The recommended dose of Breo Ellipta for COPD is 100 mcg fluticasone furoate/25 mcg vilanterol once per day. You’ll get your complete daily dose from one inhalation, and you’ll typically take this medication at the same time each day.
Breo Ellipta dosage for asthma
The recommended initial Breo Ellipta dose for asthma is either 100 mcg or 200 mcg fluticasone furoate/25 mcg vilanterol. You’ll get your complete daily dose from one inhalation. You’ll typically take Breo Ellipta once per day at the same time each day.
If you start treatment with the lower dose of Breo Ellipta and your symptoms do not improve, your doctor may increase your dose.
Long-term treatment
Breo Ellipta is meant to be a long-term treatment. If you and your doctor determine that Breo Ellipta is safe and effective for you, you’ll likely take it long term.
Breo Ellipta comes as an inhaler with two blister packs for each dose. There are usually either 14 or 30 doses per inhaler. One blister pack contains the fluticasone furoate powder, and the other blister pack contains the vilanterol powder. Be sure to read the dosing instructions that come with your medication.
The manufacturer also provides information to help understand Breo Ellipta dosing instructions. Below is a summary of how to use Breo Ellipta.
Step 1. Prepare the medication for inhalation
Slide the cover of the inhaler down until you see the mouthpiece. You’ll hear a clicking sound and see the dose counter go down by one (for example, it will go from 30 to 29). There’s no need to shake the inhaler before you breathe in the medication.
Step 2. Breathe in the medication
First, hold the inhaler away from you while you breathe out completely. Next, place your lips over the curved shape of the mouthpiece. Breathe in through your mouth using a single, deep breath. Avoid breathing in through your nose at the same time. Remove the inhaler from your mouth. Then, hold your breath for about 3 or 4 seconds. Breathe out using a slow and gentle breath.
Step 3. Clean the inhaler and rinse out your mouth
You can use a dry tissue to clean the mouthpiece of the inhaler, if needed, and put the cover back on. Use plain water to rinse out your mouth, but don’t swallow the water. The reason you rinse your mouth is to help prevent an oral thrush infection.
It may be helpful to take Breo Ellipta around the same time of day. This helps maintain a steady level of the drug in your body so Breo Ellipta can work effectively.
ACCESSIBLE DRUG LABELS AND CONTAINERSIf you’re having trouble reading your prescription label, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. Some pharmacies offer labels with large print, braille, or a code you scan with a smartphone to convert text to speech. If your local pharmacy doesn’t have these options, your doctor or pharmacist might be able to recommend a pharmacy that does.
If you miss a dose of Breo Ellipta, take it as soon as you remember. If it’s almost time for your next dose, take the next dose. Do not take a double dose. The manufacturer recommends to only take one dose per day.
To help make sure that you don’t miss a dose, try using a medication reminder. This can include using a timer or setting an alarm. You could also download a reminder app on your phone.
The Breo Ellipta dosage your doctor prescribes will depend on several factors. These include:
- the type and severity of the condition you’re using Breo Ellipta to treat
- side effects you may have, such as oral thrush or other infection
- history of severe asthma or other breathing emergencies
Other medical conditions you have can also affect your Breo Ellipta dosage.
Dosage adjustments
The manufacturer noted that the inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) dosage in Breo Ellipta may have a larger effect in people with liver problems. If you have decreased liver function, your doctor may monitor you for side effects related to corticosteroids, such as infection.
If you use more Breo Ellipta than your doctor prescribes, you may develop serious side effects.
It’s important that you don’t use more Breo Ellipta than your doctor advises. The manufacturer does not mention reports of overdoses from Breo Ellipta, but there have been overdoses with the individual drugs that it contains. Because Breo Ellipta is inhaled, it’s less likely to lead to an overdose than oral versions of the same medications.
Fluticasone furoate symptoms of an overdose
Overdose symptoms of fluticasone furoate in Breo Ellipta can include:
- hypercortisolism (high cortisol levels)
- muscle weakness
- round face
- extreme fatigue
- hyperglycemia
Vilanterol symptoms of an overdose
Overdose symptoms of vilanterol in Breo Ellipta can include:
- high blood pressure
- low blood pressure
- seizures
- dry mouth
- high blood sugar levels
- low potassium levels
- tachycardia (fast heartbeat)
- angina (chest pain)
- abnormal heart rhythm
If you take more than the recommended amount of Breo Ellipta
Call your doctor right away if you believe you’ve taken too much Breo Ellipta. Another option is to call the American Association of Poison Control Centers at 800-222-1222 or use its online tool. If you have severe symptoms, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number, or go to the nearest emergency room.
Below are answers to some frequently asked questions about Breo Ellipta dosage.
Can I accidentally take two doses of Breo Ellipta?
No, you can’t accidentally take two doses in one inhalation of Breo Ellipta. Each blister pack only contains one dose.
If you have questions about how to take your dose of Breo Ellipta, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Will I taste the medication dose when I inhale it?
It’s possible. You may or may not taste Breo Ellipta when you breathe it in. If you do not taste your dose, do not take a second dose to see if you can taste it.
You should only take one dose of Breo Ellipta per day.
When should I throw away my Breo Ellipta inhaler and use a new one for my daily dosage?
You can throw away your inhaler when the dose counter is at zero. You can also throw away your inhaler 6 weeks after you open the tray.
When the dose counter is down to 10 doses, call your doctor or pharmacy for a refill.
If you have questions about when to throw away your Breo Ellipta inhaler, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
The dosages in this article are typical dosages provided by the drug manufacturer. If your doctor recommends Breo Ellipta for you, they’ll prescribe the dosage that’s right for you. Always follow the dosage that your doctor prescribes for you.
As with any drug, never change your dosage of Breo Ellipta without your doctor’s recommendation. If you have questions about the dosage of Breo Ellipta that’s best for you, talk with your doctor.
Besides learning about dosage, you may want other information about Breo Ellipta. These additional articles might be helpful to you:
- More about Breo Ellipta. For information about other aspects of Breo Ellipta, refer to this article.
- Drug comparison. Find out how Breo Ellipta compares with Advair Diskus and other drugs, such as Symbicort and Anoro.
- Details about your condition. For details about asthma, see our asthma and allergies hub and list of asthma articles. To find more information about chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), see our COPD hub and list of related articles.
Disclaimer: Medical News Today 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.
