Trelegy Ellipta (fluticasone furoate/umeclidinium/vilanterol) is a prescription drug used to treat COPD. With COPD, you have lung damage that worsens over time. Trelegy Ellipta does not come as a generic drug.
Trelegy Ellipta comes in a dry powder inhaler.
Each active ingredient in Trelegy Ellipta belongs to a different group of drugs. These include:
- fluticasone furoate, which is an inhaled steroid
- umeclidinium, which is an anticholinergic
- vilanterol, which is a long-acting bronchodilator
To learn more about Trelegy Ellipta, see this in-depth article.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a group of lung conditions that make it difficult to breathe. COPD includes the following conditions:
- chronic bronchitis (long-term swelling in your lungs)
- emphysema (permanent damage to the air sacs in your lungs)
COPD has four stages that range from mild to severe. Your doctor will discuss with you which stage your condition is in and recommend the right treatment.
What are the symptoms of COPD?
Examples of COPD symptoms include:
Who is Trelegy Ellipta prescribed for?
Doctors prescribe Trelegy Ellipta to treat COPD in adults. It’s used long term to ease symptoms of COPD and help lower your risk of COPD flare-ups (episodes of worsened symptoms).
Doctors will not prescribe Trelegy Ellipta to treat sudden airway tightness that may occur with COPD. Instead, your doctor will prescribe a rescue inhaler for this use. An example of a rescue inhaler is albuterol (ProAir HFA, Ventolin HFA, and others).
Using Trelegy Ellipta for COPD* may cause side effects in some people. These side effects can be mild to serious.
The lists below include some of the main side effects that have been reported in people using Trelegy Ellipta. For information about other possible side effects of this drug, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
You can also learn more from this side effects article on Trelegy Ellipta or from the drug’s prescribing information.
* Trelegy Ellipta is also approved to treat asthma. It’s important to note that side effects from Trelegy Ellipta may differ depending on the condition it’s being used to treat.
What are Trelegy Ellipta’s mild side effects?
Trelegy Ellipta may cause mild side effects in some people. These include:
- swelling in airways, nose, sinuses, or stomach and intestines
- mouth pain or sore throat
- mild infection, such as an upper respiratory infection or urinary tract infection (UTI)
- joint pain or back pain
- hoarse voice
- headache
- diarrhea
- constipation
- cough
- changes in sense of taste
In many cases, mild side effects from this drug can be temporary. And some side effects may be easy to manage. But if side effects last for a longer time, or if they bother you or become severe, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
What are Trelegy Ellipta’s serious side effects?
Using Trelegy Ellipta may lead to rare but serious side effects. Examples include:
- weakened immune system, which may increase your risk of infection
- unexpected sudden airway tightness
- pneumonia
- oral thrush (a fungal infection in your mouth or throat)
- low potassium level
- low bone density, which may increase your risk of osteoporosis
- heart problems, including irregular heart rhythm and increased heart rate
- high blood sugar
- high blood pressure
- glaucoma or cataracts
- adrenal insufficiency (lower hormone production by your adrenal glands)
Call your doctor right away if you have any serious side effects while using Trelegy Ellipta. If the side effects seem life threatening or if you think you’re having a medical emergency, call 911 or your local emergency number immediately.
Allergic reactionFor some people, Trelegy Ellipta can cause an allergic reaction. But this side effect wasn’t reported in the drug’s studies.
What might help
If you have mild symptoms of an allergic reaction, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. They may suggest a treatment to manage your symptoms and can determine whether you should continue Trelegy Ellipta treatment.
If you have symptoms of a severe allergic reaction, such as swelling or difficulty breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms could be life threatening and require immediate medical care.
If your doctor confirms you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to Trelegy Ellipta, they may have you switch to a different treatment.
The price of Trelegy Ellipta depends on several factors. These can include your treatment plan, your insurance plan, the pharmacy you use, and your location. You can learn more from this cost article on Trelegy Ellipta.
Trelegy Ellipta is a brand-name drug. It’s not available as a generic.
To save money on your Trelegy Ellipta prescription, explore these Optum Perks coupons. (Note: Optum Perks coupons cannot be used with any insurance copays or benefits.)
Following are answers to frequently asked questions about using Trelegy Ellipta for COPD.
How long does it take for Trelegy Ellipta to work for COPD?
Trelegy Ellipta starts working for COPD right after your first dose. But it may take a few weeks for your symptoms to ease. Your doctor will monitor your condition to make sure the drug is working.
You’ll use Trelegy Ellipta every day to help reduce COPD symptoms and flare-ups (episodes of worsened symptoms). It’s not meant for quick relief of sudden airway tightness that may occur with COPD.
If you have other questions about what to expect from Trelegy Ellipta for COPD, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Is there a 200-mcg dose of Trelegy Ellipta for COPD?
No, the manufacturer of Trelegy Ellipta does not recommend a 200-micrograms (mcg) dose for COPD. However, doctors may prescribe this dose for asthma.
For more information about the dosage of Trelegy Ellipta for COPD, see the “How is Trelegy Ellipta used?” section.
For details about the 200-mcg dose, check out this Trelegy Ellipta dosage article or the drug’s prescribing information. You can also talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Trelegy Ellipta is approved to treat COPD in adults. Keep reading to learn how the drug works.
How does Trelegy Ellipta work?
Each active ingredient in Trelegy Ellipta works to manage COPD in the following ways:
- fluticasone furoate (an inhaled steroid) reduces swelling in your airways
- umeclidinium (an anticholinergic) keeps your airways open by stopping nearby muscles from tightening
- vilanterol (a long-acting bronchodilator) opens your airways by relaxing nearby muscles
For more information about how Trelegy Ellipta works, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. You can also learn more from the drug manufacturer’s website.
Trelegy Ellipta has been shown to effectively treat COPD. In studies, treatment with this medication led to fewer COPD symptoms and flare-ups.
For more information about how Trelegy Ellipta performed in these studies, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. You can also visit the manufacturer’s website or view the drug’s prescribing information.
Below is the typical dosage of Trelegy Ellipta when used to treat COPD. But be sure to follow the instructions and dosage your doctor has prescribed.
What’s the usual dosage of Trelegy Ellipta?
For COPD, the usual dosage of Trelegy Ellipta is one inhalation every day.
Each inhalation of Trelegy Ellipta contains the active ingredient strengths below:
- 100 mcg of fluticasone furoate
- 62.5 mcg of umeclidinium
- 25 mcg of vilanterol
You may see this dosage written as 100/62.5/25 mcg of Trelegy Ellipta.
Note: Trelegy Ellipta is also used to treat asthma. The dosage may be different for this other use. To learn more, talk with your doctor. You can also check out this Trelegy Ellipta dosage article or the drug’s prescribing information.
How do you use Trelegy Ellipta?
Trelegy Ellipta comes as a dry powder inhaler. You’ll use the Ellipta device to inhale the powder. After inhaling this medication, it’s important to rinse your mouth with water. This helps prevent a side effect called oral thrush (a fungal infection in your mouth or throat). After rinsing, be sure to spit out the water and avoid swallowing it.
Your doctor or pharmacist will explain how to use Trelegy Ellipta. For more details, you can also visit the drug manufacturer’s website or view these written instructions.
How often should I use Trelegy Ellipta?
You’ll use Trelegy Ellipta once every day.
Before starting Trelegy Ellipta treatment, there’s some important information to keep in mind. This drug may not be a safe option for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors that affect your health. Some of these are mentioned below.
If any of the following medical conditions or other health factors apply to you, talk with your doctor before using Trelegy Ellipta.
- if you have a thyroid problem
- if you have seizures
- if you have a problem with your immune system
- if you have a problem with your bladder or prostate
- if you have osteoporosis
- if you have a liver problem
- if you have an infection
- if you have a heart problem or high blood pressure
- if you have an eye problem
- if you have diabetes
- if you’re pregnant, breastfeeding, or considering either
- if you’ve had an allergic reaction to Trelegy Ellipta or any of its ingredients, including milk proteins
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.