Fluticasone, Umeclidinium, Vilanterol - Medication Detail

Medication Type:  Long Term Control, should be taken every day as prescribed

Generic Names:  Fluticasone, Umeclidinium, and Vilanterol

Brand Names:  Trelegy Ellipta

Description:  This medication is an inhaler used once every day for long term control of asthma symptoms. It prevents irritation and swelling in the airways, and causes muscles in the airways to relax, opening them for easier breathing.

Delivery

Dry powder inhaler

Spacer

Do not use this inhaler with a spacer.

Dosage

Adults (age 18 years or older): take one inhalation once daily.

Proper Use

  • Do not open the cover of the inhaler until you are ready to use it. To avoid wasting doses after the inhaler is ready, do not close the cover until after you have inhaled the medication.
  • Each time you fully open the cover of the inhaler, you will hear a “click”, and a dose is ready to be inhaled.
  • If you open and close the cover without inhaling the medication, you will lose the dose. It is not possible to accidentally take a double dose or an extra dose in one inhalation.
  • Write the “Tray opened” and “Discard” dates on the inhaler label. The “Discard” date is 6 weeks after opening the tray.
  • After opening the cover, breathe out fully away from the inhaler, then put the mouthpiece between your lips and close your lips firmly around it. Do not block the airvents with your fingers.
  • Take one long, steady, deep breath in through your mouth.
  • Remove the inhaler from your mouth and hold your breath for 3-4 seconds.
  • Breathe out slowly and gently.
  • After using the inhaler, rinse your mouth with water and spit out the water. Do not swallow the water.

Missed Dose

  • Use a missed dose as soon as you think about it.
  • If it is close to the time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your normal time.
  • Do not take more than one dose of this drug in 24 hours.

Precautions

  • Do NOT use this drug to treat an asthma attack. Continue to use this medication as prescribed, even if asthma symptoms are not present.
  • If you have been taking this drug for many weeks, talk with your doctor before stopping. You may want to slowly stop this drug.
  • Avoid being near anyone with chickenpox or measles.
  • Talk with your doctor if you have glaucoma or cataracts, high blood sugar (diabetes), a fast heartbeat, heart disease, high blood pressure, liver disease, soft and brittle bones (osteoporosis), overactive thyroid, seizures, of if you are being treated for any type of infection.

Common Interactions

Some of the medications Trelegy interacts with are nonselective beta-blockers (levobunolol, metoprolol, nadolol, propranolol, sotalol, timolol), some antidepressants such as amitriptyline, imipramine, tranylcypromine, and phenelzine and some medications that dry your mouth such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl) and doxylamine (Unisom).

Tell your doctor and pharmacist about all of your medications and health problems so they can check for any interactions.

Possible Side Effects

Tell your doctor or seek medical attention right away if you have signs of an allergic reaction (hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue or throat); tremors, nervousness, chest pain, fast or pounding hearbeats; fever chills, cough with mucus, feeling short of breath; sores or white patches in your mouth and throat, pain while swallowing; wheezing or other breathing problems after using this medicine; trouble with urination; trouble with vision; high blood sugar; low potassium level; signs of a hormonal disorder.

Common side effects may include: body aches or pain, cough, headache, hoarse voice, sneezing, sore throat, stuffy/runny nose, joint pain, bowel changes, nausea/vomiting, mouth pain/changes in your sense of taste.

Proper Storage

  • Store at room temperature in a dry place. Do not store in the bathroom.
  • Protect from heat and light.
  • Do not take the inhaler from the foil tray until right before the first use.
  • After opening, throw away any part not used after 6 weeks or when the indicator is at “0”, whichever comes first.