What is the use of Breo? Understanding Breo Ellipta for Asthma and COPD

October 6, 2025 •

4 min read

According to research, Breo Ellipta is an effective once-daily prescription medicine for the long-term management of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). To fully understand what is the use of Breo, it's important to recognize that it acts as a preventative maintenance treatment, not a rescue medication for sudden attacks.

Quick Summary

Breo Ellipta is a daily, long-term inhaler for asthma and COPD, containing two medications to reduce inflammation and open airways. It is not for sudden breathing problems and should be used consistently to prevent symptoms and flare-ups.

Key Points

Maintenance Treatment: Breo Ellipta is a once-daily maintenance inhaler for long-term control of asthma and COPD, not for immediate relief during an attack.
Dual Action Formula: It combines an inhaled corticosteroid (fluticasone furoate) to reduce inflammation and a long-acting bronchodilator (vilanterol) to relax airway muscles.
Not a Rescue Inhaler: Always carry a separate, quick-acting rescue inhaler for sudden breathing problems, as Breo is for preventative therapy.
Rinse Mouth After Use: To prevent oral thrush, a common side effect, patients must rinse their mouth with water and spit it out after every inhalation.
Use with Caution: Breo use requires careful consideration for patients with heart problems, diabetes, or milk protein allergies, and carries risks like increased pneumonia incidence in COPD patients.

Breo Ellipta is a combination inhaled medication prescribed to help people with certain chronic respiratory conditions. It contains two active ingredients: an inhaled corticosteroid (ICS), fluticasone furoate, and a long-acting beta2-adrenergic agonist (LABA), vilanterol. The combination of these two drug classes allows Breo to address both inflammation and airway constriction in the lungs with a single daily dose.

What is the use of Breo? Indications and Mechanism

Breo is a preventive, maintenance therapy, and its primary uses include the long-term management of:

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD): This includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Breo Ellipta is indicated for adults to improve airflow and reduce the frequency of COPD exacerbations, or flare-ups.
Asthma: Breo is used for the maintenance treatment of asthma in patients aged 5 and older. It is prescribed for those whose asthma is not adequately controlled with an inhaled corticosteroid alone or for those who require treatment with both an ICS and a LABA.

Important Limitation: Breo is explicitly not a rescue inhaler. It does not provide immediate relief for a sudden asthma attack or COPD flare-up. Patients must always carry a separate, fast-acting rescue inhaler for such emergencies.

How the Active Ingredients Work

Breo's dual-action formula targets the underlying issues of asthma and COPD:

Fluticasone Furoate: As an inhaled corticosteroid, fluticasone helps decrease inflammation, swelling, and irritation within the lungs. This long-term anti-inflammatory effect helps prevent symptoms from occurring.
Vilanterol: This long-acting beta2-adrenergic agonist relaxes the muscles around the airways, causing them to open up and making it easier to breathe. The effect lasts for a full 24 hours, which is why Breo is only taken once daily.

Breo vs. Other Common Maintenance Inhalers

Breo Ellipta is one of several combination ICS/LABA inhalers available. Its once-daily dosing and dry powder delivery system are key differentiating factors compared to other treatments, such as Advair.


Feature	Breo Ellipta	Advair (Diskus/HFA)	Symbicort	Qvar RediHaler
Dosing Frequency	Once daily	Twice daily	Twice daily	Twice daily
Active Ingredients	Fluticasone furoate and vilanterol	Fluticasone propionate and salmeterol	Budesonide and formoterol	Beclomethasone
Delivery System	Dry Powder Inhaler (DPI)	DPI (Diskus) or Metered Dose Inhaler (MDI) (HFA)	MDI or DPI	MDI
Age for Asthma	5 years and older	4 years and older (Diskus); 12 years and older (HFA)	Varies by dose and product.	Varies by dose and product.
Main Advantage	Convenient once-daily dosing	Twice-daily option may suit some patients	Some find MDI easier to use than DPI.	No spacer needed for Qvar MDI.

Proper Usage and Associated Risks

Using Breo correctly is crucial for its effectiveness and to minimize side effects. It is a dry powder inhaler that requires the patient to take a deep, forceful breath to inhale the medication properly.

How to Use the Ellipta Inhaler

Open the cover of the inhaler until you hear a click. This primes the dose.
Turn your head away and exhale completely.
Place the mouthpiece in your mouth and seal your lips around it.
Inhale deeply and steadily. It's normal to not taste or feel the powder.
Hold your breath for a few seconds before exhaling slowly.
Rinse your mouth with water and spit it out to prevent oral thrush.

Notable Side Effects and Risks

Breo is associated with several side effects, and patients should be aware of potential complications:

Oral Thrush: A fungal infection in the mouth or throat. Rinsing the mouth after use is the primary preventative measure.
Increased Risk of Pneumonia: COPD patients using Breo have an increased risk of pneumonia. Symptoms like fever, increased mucus, or worsening cough should be reported to a doctor.
Cardiovascular Effects: Vilanterol, like other LABAs, can cause cardiovascular effects such as increased blood pressure or heart rate. Caution is advised for patients with pre-existing heart conditions.
Paradoxical Bronchospasm: In rare cases, Breo can cause airways to unexpectedly tighten, leading to severe breathing problems. This requires immediate medical attention.
Adrenal Suppression: Long-term use of inhaled corticosteroids can lead to adrenal insufficiency, a condition where the body does not produce enough steroid hormones.
Contraindications: Breo is contraindicated in patients with a severe hypersensitivity to milk proteins, which are present as an inactive ingredient.

Conclusion

Breo Ellipta offers an effective once-daily maintenance treatment option for adults with COPD and patients 5 and older with asthma. By combining an inhaled corticosteroid to manage inflammation with a long-acting bronchodilator to keep airways open, it provides sustained relief and helps prevent flare-ups. However, it is crucial to remember that Breo is not a rescue inhaler and to use it precisely as directed by a healthcare professional. Patients should be aware of potential side effects and discuss any concerns or pre-existing conditions with their doctor to ensure safe and effective use.

For more detailed prescribing information and safety warnings, visit the FDA's official page for Breo Ellipta.

Frequently Asked Questions

For COPD, Breo Ellipta is used for the long-term, once-daily maintenance treatment of airflow obstruction and to reduce flare-ups in adults with a history of exacerbations.

No, Breo is not a rescue inhaler and should not be used to treat a sudden asthma attack or COPD flare-up. Patients should use a short-acting, fast-relief inhaler for sudden symptoms.

Breo contains two medicines: fluticasone furoate, an inhaled corticosteroid (ICS), and vilanterol, a long-acting beta2-adrenergic agonist (LABA).

Yes, one of Breo's active ingredients, fluticasone furoate, is an inhaled corticosteroid (ICS).

Breo Ellipta is typically prescribed for once-daily use.

If you miss a dose, you should take it as soon as you remember. However, do not take more than one inhalation per day or take two doses at the same time to make up for a missed dose.

Oral thrush is a fungal infection in the mouth or throat, which is a potential side effect of inhaled steroids like fluticasone. To prevent it, rinse your mouth with water and spit it out immediately after each dose.