Breo Ellipta is a prescription drug used to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in adults and asthma in adults and children ages 5 years and older.

Breo Ellipta comes as a powder that you inhale into your lungs using the Ellipta inhaler. It has two active ingredients: fluticasone and vilanterol. An active ingredient is what makes a drug work.

If you and your doctor determine Breo Ellipta is safe and effective for you, you’ll likely use it long term.

This article explains the side effects of Breo Ellipta.

The most common side effects of Breo Ellipta for adults and children include:

In most cases, these side effects are temporary and easy to manage. If your symptoms don’t go away or bother you, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. Do not stop using Breo Ellipta unless your doctor recommends it.

Breo Ellipta may cause mild side effects other than those above. See the drug’s prescribing information for details.

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It’s possible to have serious side effects from Breo Ellipta, but they’re usually rare.

If you develop serious side effects while using Breo Ellipta, call your doctor right away. If you think you’re having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.

Serious side effects include:

In children, Breo Ellipta may cause children to grow more slowly. If your child is taking this medication, their doctor should check their height regularly to make sure they are growing properly.

If you’re using Breo Ellipta to treat COPD, your doctor may monitor you for signs of pneumonia during treatment. This is because certain symptoms of pneumonia, such as shortness of breath, cough, or fatigue, are also similar to symptoms of a COPD flare-up.

If you develop symptoms of thrush while using Breo Ellipta, talk with your doctor for diagnosis and treatment. To reduce your risk of thrush, rinse your mouth with water and spit the water out after each dose of Breo Ellipta.

Allergic reaction

Like most drugs, Breo Ellipta can cause an allergic reaction in some people. If you have mild symptoms of an allergic reaction, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away.

If you have symptoms of a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis), such as swelling or trouble breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms could be life threatening and require immediate medical care.

Note: After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks and reviews side effects of the medication. If you’d like to notify the FDA about a side effect you’ve had with Breo Ellipta, visit MedWatch.

»Learn more:Breo Ellipta dosage

No, stopping treatment with Breo Ellipta shouldn’t cause withdrawal symptoms. However, suddenly stopping treatment with a corticosteroid, such as fluticasone, one of Breo Ellipta’s active ingredients, can cause a condition called adrenal insufficiency. With this condition, your body doesn’t make enough cortisol (a hormone that helps you manage stress).

Adrenal insufficiency after stopping Breo Ellipta treatment is rare.

No. Anxiety was not a side effect reported in Breo Ellipta’s studies.

However, Breo Ellipta can cause a fast heart rate or heart palpitations, which may feel like symptoms of certain anxiety disorders.

No, weight gain wasn’t reported as a side effect in Breo Ellipta’s studies. Certain corticosteroids that you swallow may cause weight gain, but inhaled corticosteroids shouldn’t.

It may be best to avoid drinking large amounts of alcohol while using this medication.

There is no known interaction between alcohol and Breo Ellipta, but drinking large amounts of alcohol can weaken your immune system over time. This can increase your risk of infection, including pneumonia.

If you drink alcohol, talk with your doctor about how much (if any) is safe to drink with your condition and treatment plan.

It’s not known whether it’s safe to use Breo Ellipta during pregnancy or breastfeeding. If you’re pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding, talk with your doctor before starting treatment with Breo Ellipta.

If your doctor does prescribe Breo Ellipta for you, you may have to stop using it during the later stages of your pregnancy. This is because vilanterol, one of the active ingredients in Breo Ellipta, can affect uterine contractions during delivery. In this case, they’ll prescribe a different treatment for your condition.

It’s important to note that having untreated asthma during pregnancy can lead to issues such as premature birth or low birth weight.

Keeping track of side effects

During your Breo Ellipta treatment, consider taking notes on any side effects you’re having to share with your doctor. This is especially helpful when you first start taking new drugs or using a combination of treatments.

Your side effect notes can include things such as:

  • what dose of the drug you had inhaled when you had the side effect
  • how soon you had the side effect after starting that dose
  • what your symptoms were
  • how your symptoms affected your daily activities
  • what other medications you were taking
  • any other information you feel is important

Your doctor can use this information to adjust your treatment plan if necessary.

If you still have questions about the possible side effects of Breo Ellipta, talk with your doctor. Examples of questions you may want to ask include:

  • Does my risk of thrush depend on the dosage I’m prescribed?
  • Can Breo Ellipta make me more tired than usual?
  • Do I have a higher risk of side effects if I have kidney problems?
  • Is my risk of pneumonia higher when I first start treatment?

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You may also want to check out the online communities at Bezzy, like Bezzy COPD. It’s a place where people with chronic conditions can find support and connect with others.

Breo Ellipta is a prescription inhaler that treats COPD in adults and asthma in people ages 5 years and older.

The most common side effects are mild and easy to manage. They include a sore throat, runny nose, headache, and cough. Serious side effects include an increased risk of infections, blood pressure, and heart palpitations.

A doctor will check your medical history before prescribing Breo Ellipta to make sure it’s safe for you to take. If you experience side effects that do not go away or seem serious, contact a doctor right away.

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.