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glycopyrrolate vs umeclidinium

Side-by-side comparison of glycopyrrolate and umeclidinium Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.

Drug Class
glycopyrrolate Long-Acting Muscarinic Antagonist (LAMA)
umeclidinium Long-Acting Muscarinic Antagonist (LAMA)
Type
glycopyrrolate Prescription
umeclidinium Prescription
Summary
glycopyrrolate

Glycopyrrolate injection reduces body secretions before and during surgery. It can also help manage peptic ulcers in adults when quick action is needed.

umeclidinium

Incruse Ellipta is a medicine that helps people with COPD breathe easier. It contains umeclidinium, which is a long-acting muscarinic antagonist (LAMA).

What It Treats
glycopyrrolate

This medicine can help reduce saliva and other secretions before surgery. It can also help control stomach acid. Glycopyrrolate can also treat peptic ulcers in adults when a quick effect is needed or when you can't take pills.

umeclidinium

Incruse Ellipta is used to help people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) breathe better. COPD is a long-term lung disease that makes it hard to breathe. This medicine is not for sudden breathing problems or asthma.

How It Works
glycopyrrolate

Glycopyrrolate blocks the action of a chemical called acetylcholine. This chemical can cause increased saliva, stomach acid, and other body fluids. By blocking acetylcholine, glycopyrrolate reduces these secretions.

umeclidinium

Incruse Ellipta works by relaxing the muscles around your airways. This helps to open up your airways so that air can flow into your lungs more easily. It makes it easier to breathe.

Common Side Effects
glycopyrrolate
  • Dry mouth
  • Trouble urinating
  • Blurred vision
  • Increased heart rate
  • Decreased sweating
umeclidinium
  • Sore throat
  • Sinus infection
  • Lower respiratory tract infection
  • Constipation
  • Diarrhea
FAERS Reports
glycopyrrolate
  • Difficulty breathing 1,000
  • Asthma 793
  • Wheezing 674
  • Cough 626
  • Pneumonia 538
umeclidinium
  • Difficulty breathing 1,352
  • Medicine not working 752
  • Cough 701
  • Asthma 604
  • Using the inhaler incorrectly 520
Serious Warnings
glycopyrrolate

This medicine contains benzyl alcohol, which can be harmful to newborns. If you have glaucoma, trouble urinating, or a blockage in your stomach or intestines, you should not take this medicine for peptic ulcer treatment.

umeclidinium

Incruse Ellipta is not for treating asthma. Do not use Incruse Ellipta if you are allergic to milk proteins or any of the ingredients in the inhaler. Talk to your doctor right away if you have new or worsening eye problems or problems passing urine.

Pregnancy
glycopyrrolate

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. It is not known if glycopyrrolate will harm an unborn baby. This medicine may also reduce breast milk production.

umeclidinium

Not enough information is available to know if Incruse Ellipta is safe to use during pregnancy. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

Also Compare — Nearby Drugs

How to Read This glycopyrrolate vs umeclidinium Comparison

glycopyrrolate is classified in the Long-Acting Muscarinic Antagonist (LAMA) drug class, while umeclidinium sits within the Long-Acting Muscarinic Antagonist (LAMA) class. Because both drugs share the same classification, they are often considered interchangeable in theory — but clinical outcomes rarely track that cleanly. Both drugs are prescription-only, so a licensed provider must authorize use.

Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, glycopyrrolate has 3,631 submissions while umeclidinium has 3,929. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume — not per-patient risk — so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. No direct interaction between these two drugs is listed in our FDA-derived dataset, though co-prescription still warrants pharmacist review. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.

A table cannot substitute for clinical judgment. Effectiveness, tolerability, drug-drug interactions with your other medications, kidney and liver function, pregnancy status, insurance formulary, and price all feed into a decision that only a licensed prescriber can make responsibly. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This page is for educational purposes only, is not medical advice, and should not be used to self-switch between glycopyrrolate and umeclidinium — always consult your physician or pharmacist first.

Important: This comparison is for informational purposes only. Drug effects vary between individuals. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized medical advice.