Prescription medication · Corticosteroid / Long-Acting Beta-2 Agonist Combination

fluticasone/vilanterol

Also sold as Breo Ellipta. Breo Ellipta is used to treat COPD in adults.

Data updated 2026-05-15

2
InteractionsFew interactions
$5.36
Brand price (NADAC)

fluticasone/vilanterol (Breo Ellipta) is a prescription Corticosteroid / Long-Acting Beta-2 Agonist Combination. Breo Ellipta is used to treat COPD in adults.

Breo Ellipta is a medicine that contains a corticosteroid and a long-acting beta-agonist. It is used to help control symptoms of COPD and asthma.

Drug Pricing (NADAC)

Brand Price

$5.36/unit

Generic Available

No

Pricing data from NADAC (CMS), effective December 18, 2024. Compare all drug costs →

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What it does

Breo Ellipta is used to treat COPD in adults.

Common side effects

Sore throat, Upper respiratory infection, Headache

Key warnings

LABA medicines such as vilanterol, when used alone, increase the risk of asthma-related death.

The sections below are summarized in plain English from fluticasone/vilanterol's FDA-approved prescribing information. They describe what the official label says, and are not personal medical advice.

How It Works

Breo Ellipta contains two medicines. Fluticasone furoate reduces inflammation in the lungs. Vilanterol helps to relax the muscles around your airways, making it easier to breathe.

Serious Warnings

LABA medicines such as vilanterol, when used alone, increase the risk of asthma-related death. Breo Ellipta should not be used to treat sudden breathing problems. Do not use Breo Ellipta with other medicines that contain a LABA.

Known Drug Interactions

7 DRUG INTERACTIONS • Strong cytochrome P450 3A4 inhibitors (e.g., ketoconazole): Use with caution. Concomitant administration of the strong CYP3A4 inhibitor ketoconazole increases the systemic exposure to fluticasone furoate and vilanterol. Caution should be exercised when considering the coadministration of BREO ELLIPTA with ketoconazole and other known strong CYP3A4 inhibitors [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.9 ), Clinical Pharmacology ( 12.3 )] .

Mechanism: Ketoconazole interferes with how your body processes the inhaler, which can result in higher-than-normal levels of the medicine in your body.

( 7.4 ) 7.1 Inhibitors of Cytochrome P450 3A4 Fluticasone furoate and vilanterol are both substrates of CYP3A4. Concomitant administration of the strong CYP3A4 inhibitor ketoconazole increases the systemic exposure to fluticasone furoate and vilanterol.

Mechanism: These two medications contain the same active steroid. Using them at the same time can cause the drug levels to build up too high in your system.

This is a plain-language summary of FDA-label interaction records and does not provide individual medication-combination directions.

Common Questions

What should I do if Breo Ellipta doesn't seem to be working?
If Breo Ellipta does not control your asthma, talk to your doctor. They may need to adjust your dose or consider other treatments.
Can I use Breo Ellipta as a rescue inhaler?
No, Breo Ellipta is not a rescue inhaler. Use a short-acting beta2-agonist like albuterol for sudden breathing problems.
How long does it take for Breo Ellipta to start working?
It may take about 15 minutes to feel the effects. The time it takes to work can vary.
Can Breo Ellipta cause thrush?
Yes, Breo Ellipta can cause a mouth infection called thrush. Rinse your mouth with water after each dose to help prevent this.
Does Breo Ellipta contain steroids?
Yes, Breo Ellipta contains fluticasone furoate, which is a type of inhaled corticosteroid.
Can I stop taking Breo Ellipta if I feel better?
Do not stop taking Breo Ellipta without talking to your doctor first. Your symptoms may get worse if you stop suddenly.
Can Breo Ellipta affect my heart?
Breo Ellipta can cause heart problems in some people. Tell your doctor if you have heart problems.
Can children use Breo Ellipta?
Yes, Breo Ellipta can be used in children 5 years and older for asthma. The dose depends on the child's age.
How often should I clean my Breo Ellipta inhaler?
Do not take the inhaler apart to clean it. If you need to clean the mouthpiece, use a dry cloth.
What are the common side effects of fluticasone/vilanterol?
The registry lists Sore throat, Upper respiratory infection, Headache, Mouth infection (oral candidiasis), Back pain among the most-reported FAERS reaction terms for fluticasone/vilanterol. These counts are not an individual symptom assessment.
Does fluticasone/vilanterol interact with other medications?
The registry has 2 documented interaction rows for fluticasone/vilanterol. Notable source-record pairings include ketoconazole, fluticasone. These rows are not a complete medication review.
What drug class is fluticasone/vilanterol?
fluticasone/vilanterol belongs to the Corticosteroid / Long-Acting Beta-2 Agonist Combination drug class. It requires a prescription (Rx). Breo Ellipta is used to treat COPD in adults.
What pregnancy or breastfeeding source fields are listed for fluticasone/vilanterol?
The FDA label for fluticasone/vilanterol contains product-specific pregnancy or breastfeeding language. PlainMeds does not apply that source text to an individual.

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What the FDA Data Shows for fluticasone/vilanterol

The FDA label for fluticasone/vilanterol (sold under brand names such as Breo Ellipta) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the Corticosteroid / Long-Acting Beta-2 Agonist Combination class. Breo Ellipta is used to treat COPD in adults. Official labeling lists 15 commonly reported side effects, including Sore throat, Upper respiratory infection, Headache.

Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. Voluntary reports accumulate over the lifetime of a drug and reflect wide-ranging clinical use. The database also lists 2 documented drug interactions derived from FDA labeling, with the top-flagged interaction rated moderate severity. NADAC pricing from CMS.

Report counts do not establish causation, a FAERS entry documents a temporal association, not proof that the drug produced the outcome. Widely prescribed medications naturally accumulate more reports than niche therapies, so raw totals must be interpreted alongside total exposure. Shortage status, recall history, and patent information are separate source-record fields. This page is a public FDA/CMS registry and does not provide medical, treatment, substitution, or medication-change directions.

Data Sources

Drug labeling: FDA Drug Labels (SPL/DailyMed). Adverse events: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Pricing: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC).

FAERS reports are voluntary and do not establish causation. Drug interactions are derived from FDA labeling and clinical references. This registry does not provide medication decisions.

Last updated: November 7, 2024

PlainMeds is rendered directly from FDA openFDA/FAERS extracts, DailyMed labels, and CMS drug-pricing files, no number is typed in by an editor. FAERS counts, recalls, shortages, and price figures on this page are queried live from those federal extracts. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of 2026-05-15. Primary sources: openFDA / FAERS, DailyMed and CMS Part B ASP.

Data currency: FDA FAERS adverse-event reports through 2025, CMS NADAC acquisition-cost pricing effective December 2024, compiled from the source snapshot dated . See our methodology for per-source dates and refresh cadence. Spot a figure that looks wrong? Report a data issue.

All federal data sources used on this page