Trelegy Ellipta

Trelegy Ellipta isn't made to treat sudden breathing problems. Don’t use it as a rescue inhaler because it won’t work fast enough. Instead, use a short-acting rescue inhaler like albuterol for sudden symptoms such as wheezing or shortness of breath.

If you notice you're using your rescue inhaler more often than usual, tell your pulmonologist. This could be a sign that your condition is getting worse. Don’t take extra doses of Trelegy Ellipta — it won’t help and could lead to serious side effects like heart problems, shakiness, or dizziness.

• Risk factors: Using too much Trelegy Ellipta | Also using other LABAs

Don't use Trelegy Ellipta more often or at higher doses than prescribed. Using too much can lead to serious side effects, including heart problems and, in rare cases, death. Since Trelegy Ellipta already contains a long-acting beta agonist (LABA), don’t use any other inhalers that also have a LABA — such as Serevent Diskus (salmeterol) or Perforomist (formoterol) — while using this medication.

• Risk factors: Not rinsing and spitting after using Trelegy Ellipta

Trelegy Ellipta can sometimes cause a yeast infection in your mouth or throat called oral thrush. If you notice white patches or a cotton-like feeling in your mouth or throat, let your prescriber know — it can usually be treated with antifungal medication. In some cases, your prescriber might have you pause treatment. To help prevent thrush, rinse your mouth with water after each dose, and spit the water out — don’t swallow it.

• Risk factors: COPD

Trelegy Ellipta might raise your risk of lower respiratory infections, including pneumonia. In rare cases, some of these infections can be serious or even fatal. This risk is especially important to watch for in people with COPD, since pneumonia symptoms can look very similar to a flare-up. Let your care team know right away if you have symptoms like more mucus, mucus changing color, fever, chills, coughing more than usual, more trouble breathing

• Risk factors: Active, chronic (long-term), or recurrent infection | Medical conditions that weaken the immune system | Taking other medications that can weaken the immune system

Trelegy Ellipta can make it harder for your body to fight infections. Serious infections, like tuberculosis (TB), chickenpox, and measles can be more dangerous if you're using this medication. Don't use Trelegy Ellipta if you have an active infection or an infection that keeps coming back without talking with your prescriber first. Tell your care team right away if you have signs of an infection, like fever, cough, sore throat, muscle aches, or feeling very tired.

• Risk factors: Using Trelegy Ellipta for a long time | Using too much Trelegy Ellipta

When you use Trelegy Ellipta at the right dose, it’s less likely to affect your body’s natural balance of steroid hormones. But if you use too much, or if you're very sensitive to steroids, it can cause problems like high steroid levels or adrenal suppression, which means your body might not make enough of its own steroids. Let your prescriber know if you feel very tired, weak, or sick to your stomach — especially during times of stress or after surgery — as these could be signs of low steroid hormone levels.

If you're switching from oral steroids like prednisone to Trelegy Ellipta, your body might need time to adjust. Oral steroids can weaken your adrenal glands over time, and they might not bounce back right away after you stop. If you’ve been taking high doses of oral steroids, your pulmonologist will help you slowly lower the dose to reduce the risk of side effects.

Trelegy Ellipta can sometimes cause a sudden tightening of the airways called paradoxical bronchospasm, meaning your breathing might get worse instead of better. This can be dangerous and life-threatening. If you notice more wheezing, coughing, or shortness of breath after using it, stop the medication right away and contact your prescriber.

• Risk factors: Severe allergy to milk proteins (lactose)

Serious allergic reactions to Trelegy Ellipta can happen. Get medical help right away if you notice hives, a rash, swelling of face or throat, or trouble breathing. If you have a severe milk protein allergy, don't use Trelegy Ellipta — it contains lactose, which could cause a dangerous reaction.

• Risk factors: History of heart problems | High blood pressure

Trelegy Ellipta might affect your heart, so it should be used with caution if you have conditions like high blood pressure, irregular heartbeat, or a history of heart disease. Tell your prescriber if you notice chest pain, a fast or pounding heartbeat, or dizziness while using this inhaler. They might check your heart regularly to make sure this medication is safe for you.

• Risk factors: Using Trelegy Ellipta long term | Unable to move for a long period of time | Family history of osteoporosis | Menopause | Tobacco use | Older adults | Poor diet | Taking medications that can cause bone loss

Using Trelegy Ellipta over a long time can cause a small drop in bone strength. This might not always lead to broken bones, but it can be a concern if you have risk factors like being older, going through menopause, smoking, eating poorly, not being active, or taking certain medications.

Since people with COPD often have some of these risk factors, your prescriber might check your bone health before you start using Trelegy Ellipta and from time to time afterward. If your bone strength gets too low but you still need this inhaler, your prescriber might suggest ways to help protect your bones.

• Risk factors: Using Trelegy Ellipta long term

Using Trelegy Ellipta long term can raise your risk of eye problems like glaucoma, high eye pressure, or cataracts. Be on the lookout for symptoms such as eye pain or pressure, blurry vision, red eyes, or seeing halos or bright colors around lights. These could be signs of a serious eye condition. If you notice any of these, contact your prescriber right away. They might send you to an eye specialist to check for problems.

• Risk factors: Enlarged prostate | Bladder-neck blockage

Trelegy Ellipta contains a long-acting muscarinic antagonist (LAMA), which is a type of anticholinergic. Anticholinergic medications can sometimes cause trouble urinating, so this medication should be used carefully if you already have trouble emptying your bladder. This includes people with an enlarged prostate or bladder-neck blockage. Let your prescriber know right away if you have signs of urinary retention, such as difficulty urinating or pain with urination. These could be signs of a serious problem that needs medical attention.

• Risk factors: Using too much Trelegy Ellipta | High thyroid hormone | History of seizures

Speak to your prescriber before using Trelegy Ellipta if you have health conditions like seizures, or high thyroid hormone. This inhaler can sometimes make these conditions worse or lead to serious side effects. Be sure to share your full medical history with your prescriber before starting this medication.

• Risk factors: Using Trelegy Ellipta too much

Trelegy Ellipta can sometimes cause low potassium levels or high blood sugar, though this is usually temporary and doesn’t need treatment. But in some cases, low potassium can affect your heart. Let your care team know if you have muscle pain or weakness, muscle cramps, or an irregular heartbeat — these could be signs of low potassium.