Trelegy Ellipta

Key points about Trelegy Ellipta

  • Trelegy Ellipta is used to treat COPD or asthma.
  • Trelegy Ellipta contains 3 medicines (fluticasone, umeclidinium and vilanterol) in a single inhaler.
  • Find out how to use Trelegy Ellipta correctly and possible side effects.
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Trelegy Ellipta is used to treat moderate to severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or asthma. COPD is a group of diseases that affect your lungs and airways, causing breathing difficulties. The 2 main types of COPD are emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Learn more about COPD and medicines for COPD

Trelegy Ellipta contains 3 medicines (fluticasone, umeclidinium and vilanterol) mixed together in 1 inhaler.

  • Fluticasone prevents swelling and irritation in the walls of the small air passages in your lungs. It belongs to a group of medicines known as inhaled corticosteroids.
  • Umeclidinium and vilanterol work together to relax the muscles in your airways. This helps to open your airways and makes it easier for airflow in and out of your lungs. When taken regularly, they help your airways to remain open.  

Having 3 medicines in a single inhaler means you only need to use 1 inhaler instead of 2 or 3. To work well, Trelegy Ellipta must be used once daily, every day.

Image of Trelegy Ellipta inhalation powder

 

  • Trelegy Ellipta is a dry powder inhaler. The powder is inhaled through your mouth and the inhaler device enables the medicine to go straight into your airways when you breathe in.
  • This means that your airways and lungs are treated, but very little of the medicine gets to the rest of your body.
  • From 1 May 2024, Trelegy Ellipta is funded for people with moderate to severe COPD who are using 2 or 3 inhalers daily and meet other criteria. Talk to your healthcare provider to see if Trelegy Ellipta is suitable for you. 
  • Note: Trelegy Ellipta inhaler comes in 2 strengths but only the lower strength is funded. This is fluticasone furoate 100 mcg with umeclidinium 62.5 mcg and vilanterol 25 mcg which is the strength used for COPD.

Trelegy Ellipta doesn't give immediate relief from wheezing, tight chest and shortness of breath

To treat these symptoms, use your ‘reliever’ medicine, eg, salbutamol or terbutaline.
Remember to continue using your Trelegy Ellipta inhaler each day.

  • The dose of Trelegy Ellipta is 1 inhalation once daily.
  • Follow your doctor's instructions carefully. The pharmacy label on your medicine will tell you how much to use, how often to use it and any special instructions.

Tips

  • Use your inhaler at the same time each day, either in the morning or evening. This will give the right space between doses and help you to remember to use it.
  •  If you miss a dose, you can take it as soon as you remember. But if it's nearly time for your next dose, just take your next dose at the right time. Don't take an extra dose to make up for a missed dose.
  • Since COPD is a long-term condition, the use of Trelegy Ellipta is ongoing and it needs to be used every day. Keep using your inhaler every day. Don't stop using it, even if you feel better.

To get the most benefit from your inhaler, it's important to use the correct technique. Ask your doctor, pharmacist or nurse to show you how to use an Ellipta device.

The video below provides some guidance on how to use an Ellipta device. Ellipta is the name of the device used to deliver the medicine to your lungs and airways. There are different names for each Ellipta depending on the medicines inside the device.

  • It's important to know the name and colour of your Ellipta, eg, Anoro, Breo, Incruse or Trelegy.
  • Your Ellipta may be a different colour to the one in the video below. Read more about understanding your medicines.

Video: How to use an Ellipta device

 

 
(Healthify He Puna Waiora, NZ & Auckland District Health Board, 2018)


Using an Ellipta device

  • Remove: Take the inhaler from the foil packing.
  • Open: Pull back the mouth piece cover until you hear a click. Hold the device upright at all times. Breath out away from the device.
  • Inhale your dose: Press your lips around the mouthpiece without covering the air vents on either side. Begin to breathe in rapidly and deeply through your mouth. Hold your breath for up to 10 seconds. Breathe out slowly. Close the mouth piece cover.

Cleaning and storing an Ellipta device
Clean your inhaler once a week by wiping the mouthpiece with a clean dry tissue. Do not wash the mouthpiece or allow it to get wet when cleaning. Close the inhaler when not in use. Store it in a cool dry place, away from heat and moisture.

When to start a new inhaler
There's a window on the front of the Ellipta inhaler called a dose counter. When it turns red it's time to get a new inhaler.

Here are some things to know when you're using Trelegy Ellipta inhaler. Other things may be important as well, so ask your healthcare provider what you should know about.

  • Rinse your mouth with water after using Trelegy Ellipta: Trelegy Ellipta contains fluticasone, which can cause sore throat, hoarse voice and thrush. After each use, rinse your mouth with water and spit it out to reduce any chance of side effects.
  • Trelegy Ellipta is a dry powder that contains lactose:. It's safe to use Trelegy Ellipta if you're lactose intolerant. However, if you have been diagnosed with a milk protein allergy (hypersensitivity) you should talk to your doctor before you use Trelegy Ellipta. 
  • Keep track of your doses: This is so you can refill your prescription before you run out. Trelegy Ellipta has a dose counter so you know exactly how many doses are left in the inhaler. Your inhaler has 30 doses. The dose counter counts down by 1 each time you open the cover. If you open and close the cover of the Trelegy Ellipta® inhaler without inhaling the medicine, you will lose that dose. When less than 10 doses are left, the counter shows red, so you have time to contact your doctor for a new inhaler. When it shows ‘0’ it will be empty. 
  • Expiry date: Trelegy Ellipta comes in a foil package. Once you have opened the package, the inhaler should be used within one month. Write down the date you open it so you know.
  • Taking other medicines: Trelegy Ellipta may interact with some medicines, herbal supplements and rongoā Māori, so check with your doctor or pharmacist before starting Trelegy Ellipta and before starting any new products.
  • Pregnancy: Trelegy Ellipta isn't usually recommended for use during pregnancy. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant, if you think you may be pregnant or if you're planning to have a baby,
  • Check your inhaler technique regularly: It's also important to know how to use your inhalers correctly, otherwise you may not be getting enough medication into your lungs. Ask your healthcare provider to watch you use your inhaler so you can be sure you're doing it properly.
  • If your inhaler doesn't seem to be working as well check with your healthcare team. Some people with COPD may not have the breathing strength to use an Ellipta inhaler. Your healthcare team may be able to check this by measuring your inspiratory flow rate in the clinic or hospital. 

Like all medicines Trelegy Ellipta can cause side effects, although not everyone gets them. Often side effects improve as your body adjusts to the new medicine.

Side effects What should I do?
  • Change in voice (hoarse voice)
  • Different taste in your mouth
  • Dry mouth or throat
  • Cough
  • After using your inhaler, rinse your mouth to prevent dry mouth and throat irritation.
  • Tell your doctor if these bother you.
  • Signs of oral thrush (a fungal infection in your mouth) such as a very sore tongue or mouth, with white sores on your tongue or in your mouth.
  • Tell your doctor or pharmacist.
  • Headache
  • Pain in your arms and legs
  • Stomach or back pain
  • Muscle cramp and spasms 
  • Shaking (tremor)
  • Constipation or diarrhoea
  • Nervousness
  • Tell your doctor if these bother you.
  • Blurred vision
  • Dizziness 
  • Tell your doctor.
  • Don't drive or use machinery.
  • Don'tt drink alcohol.
  • Changes in your heartbeat (fast or irregular)
  • Tell your doctor immediately or ring Healthline on 0800 611 116.
  • Signs of a chest infection such as  cough, difficulty breathing or worsening of your breathing problem, increase in mucus (sputum) production, change in mucus colour, fever and chills 
  • Tell your doctor immediately or ring Healthline on 0800 611 116.


Read more about medicines and side effects(external link) and reporting a reaction that you think might be a side effect(external link).

Trelegy Ellipta(external link) Medsafe Consumer Information


References

  1. Trelegy Ellipta(external link) Medsafe Datasheet, NZ

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Credits: Healthify editorial team. Healthify is brought to you by Health Navigator Charitable Trust.

Reviewed by: Dr Noni Richards, PhD, BPharm; Esther Kostan, Respiratory Specialist Clinical Pharmacist, Counties Manukau; Angela Lambie, Pharmacist, Auckland

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