The Pros and Cons of Breo vs. Trelegy: Which Inhaler Is Right for You?

In the United States, 24 million people have asthma, while at least 11 million have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Both of these conditions can cause difficulty breathing and can be difficult to deal with without the proper tools. 

To minimize the difficulties of asthma and COPD, your doctor may recommend using an oral inhaler. Two of the best options today are Breo Ellipta and Trelegy Ellipta, although they do have some differences. 

In this guide, we'll take a quick look at the pros and cons of Breo vs. Trelegy and help you decide which is right for you.

What Are Breo and Trelegy?

Breo and Trelegy are both used for the treatment of asthma and COPD and are very similar. They are both orally inhaled and used long-term and contain some of the same active ingredients. Both of these medications will need to be used once a day to experience relief from symptoms.

These medicines can help to prevent flare-ups by keeping a patient's airways relaxed. However, they don't help to reduce symptoms and remedy sudden breathing problems when they occur. They aren't meant for emergency asthma and COPD treatment.

What Are Their Active Ingredients?

These two medications contain similar active ingredients, with one key difference. Trelegy contains three active ingredients while a Breo inhaler includes only two active ingredients.

Both medications share fluticasone, which is a corticosteroid. It works to reduce inflammation and eliminate swelling in the lungs.

They also both contain vilanterol, which is a long-acting beta-agonist (LABA). This ingredient relaxes and opens the muscles in the airways.

The final ingredient is umeclidinium, an anticholinergic bronchodilator that works to prevent the tightening of muscles around the airways. Trelegy contains this active ingredient, but it's absent from Breo.

Which Is Better?

Although both of these drugs can be viable options for treating asthma and COPD, Breo has typically been seen as the first one to try. According to the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD), Trelegy is a second-line option that is meant to be used only if Breo isn't working adequately.

Both options are FDA-approved for both COPD and asthma. This means that they're both good options to consider, although they each have similar side effects. Some of the common side effects include headache, sore throat, and upper respiratory tract infections. 

Trelegy is seen as the more effective drug in studies. The CAPTAIN study included more than 2,400 patients. These patients showed a much more significant improvement in their forced expiratory volume over one second (FEV1) ratio throughout a 24-week treatment when using Trelegy as compared to Breo.

Despite this, both options are worth considering. Each can help treat symptoms and can be well worthwhile if you suffer from either asthma or COPD.

As far as pricing goes, keep in mind that Breo is a bit cheaper. On average, it's about two-thirds of the cost of Trelegy. For the best price on Breo, be sure to check pricepropharmacy.com. 

Deciding Between Breo vs. Trelegy

When deciding between Breo vs. Trelegy, make sure to consider the effectiveness as well as the cost. Although Trelegy is a bit more effective, Breo is a more affordable option that also works well. 

Looking for ways to improve your health and wellbeing? Find more useful guides by browsing our blog now.