Breo Ellipta vs. Albuterol Sulfate

• Are Breo Ellipta and Albuterol Sulfate the Same Thing?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Breo Ellipta?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Albuterol Sulfate?
• What is Breo Ellipta?
• What is Albuterol Sulfate?
• What Drugs Interact with Breo Ellipta?
• What Drugs Interact with Albuterol Sulfate?
• How Should Breo Ellipta Be Taken?
• How Should Albuterol Sulfate Be Taken?

Breo Ellipta (fluticasone furoate and vilanterol) and albuterol sulfate (albuterol sulfate inhalation solution) are used to treat airflow obstruction in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), including chronic bronchitis and/or emphysema.

Breo Ellipta is also used to reduce exacerbations (sudden worsening) of COPD in patients with a history of exacerbations.

Albuterol is also used to prevent exercise-induced bronchospasm.

The drugs are in different classes. Breo Ellipta is a combination inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) and long-acting beta2-adrenergic agonists (LABA) and albuterol sulfate is a bronchodilator.

Brand names for albuterol sulfate include ProAir HFA, Proventil HFA, and ProAir RespiClick.

Common side effects of Breo Ellipta include:

• 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.

Common side effects of Albuterol Sulfate include:

• headache,
• dizziness,
• sleep problems (insomnia),
• cough,
• hoarseness,
• sore throat,
• runny or stuffy nose,
• nausea,
• vomiting,
• dry mouth and throat,
• muscle pain, or
• diarrhea.

Tell your doctor if you experience serious side effects of albuterol sulfate including bronchospasm (wheezing, chest tightness, trouble breathing), especially after starting a new canister of this medicine; nervousness; shaking (tremor); headache; chest pain and fast, pounding, or irregular/uneven heartbeats (palpitations); low potassium (confusion, uneven heart rate, extreme thirst, increased urination, leg discomfort, muscle weakness or limp feeling); or dangerously high blood pressure (severe headache, blurred vision, buzzing in your ears, anxiety, confusion, chest pain, shortness of breath, uneven heartbeats, seizure).

Breo Ellipta combines an inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) medicine, fluticasone furoate, and a LABA medicine, vilanterol.

ICS medicines such as fluticasone furoate help to decrease inflammation in the lungs. Inflammation in the lungs can lead to breathing problems.

LABA medicines such as vilanterol help the muscles around the airways in your lungs stay relaxed to prevent symptoms, such as wheezing, cough, chest tightness, and shortness of breath. These symptoms can happen when the muscles around the airways tighten. This makes it hard to breathe.

Breo Ellipta should not be used in children and adolescents. It is not known if Breo Ellipta is safe and effective in children and adolescents younger than 18 years of age.

Breo Ellipta is used for COPD and asthma and as follows:

• Breo Ellipta 100/25 is a prescription medicine used to treat COPD. COPD is a chronic lung disease that includes chronic bronchitis, emphysema, or both. Breo Ellipta 100/25 is used long term as 1 inhalation 1 time each day to improve symptoms of COPD for better breathing and to reduce the number of flare-ups (the worsening of your COPD symptoms for several days).
• Breo Ellipta is not used to relieve sudden breathing problems and will not replace a rescue inhaler.
• Breo Ellipta is a prescription medicine used as 1 inhalation 1 time each day to prevent and control symptoms of asthma for better breathing and to prevent symptoms such as wheezing.
• Breo Ellipta contains vilanterol. LABA medicines such as vilanterol increase the risk of death from asthma problems.
• Breo Ellipta is not for people with asthma who are well controlled with an asthma control medicine, such as a low to medium dose of an inhaled corticosteroid medicine.
• Breo Ellipta is not used to relieve sudden breathing problems and will not replace a rescue inhaler.

Albuterol sulfate (albuterol sulfate inhalation solution) is a bronchodilator used to treat or prevent bronchospasm in people with reversible obstructive airway disease. Albuterol is also used to prevent exercise-induced bronchospasm. Albuterol sulfate is available in generic form.

Breo Ellipta may interact with antifungal medications containing ketoconazole, monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), tricyclic antidepressants, beta-blockers, or diuretics.

Albuterol sulfate may interact with diuretics (water pills), digoxin, beta-blockers, antidepressants, MAO inhibitor, or other bronchodilators. Tell your doctor all medications you use.

Albuterol sulfate may also interact with diuretics (water pills), digoxin, or other bronchodilators.

Breo Ellipta is dosed as 100 mcg/25 mcg once daily. Breo Ellipta is a dry powder for oral inhalation only. Patients with allergies to milk or milk proteins and patients with sensitivities to any component of Breo Ellipta should not use it.

The usual starting dosage of Albuterol sulfate for patients 2 to 12 years of age is 1.25 mg or 0.63 mg of albuterol sulfate inhalation solution administered 3 or 4 times daily, as needed, by nebulization.