Anoro Ellipta (umeclidinium/vilanterol)

Reviewed by: HU Medical Review Board | Last reviewed: February 2022 | Last updated: March 2022

Anoro Ellipta (umeclidinium/vilanterol) is a treatment for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It helps the muscles around the airways in your lungs stay relaxed. This helps prevent symptoms such as wheezing, cough, chest tightness, and shortness of breath. These symptoms can occur when the muscles around the airways tighten, making it difficult to breathe.1

Anoro Ellipta is a maintenance treatment. It is usually taken every day to help manage and control ongoing COPD symptoms. It cannot replace a rescue inhaler to treat severe, sudden COPD symptoms or flare-ups.1

What are the ingredients in Anoro Ellipta?

The active ingredients in Anoro Ellipta are umeclidinium and vilanterol.1

How does Anoro Ellipta work?

The medicines in Anoro Ellipta are both long-term treatments to help improve airflow and breathing for people with COPD. The lung damage caused by COPD can cause a person’s airways to become blocked in different ways. Irritation and swelling in the airways can cause them to become narrowed. This makes it hard for enough air to pass through. Bronchospasms occur when the irritation causes the muscles that surround the airways to tighten up. This can also cause the airways to narrow.1

Vilanterol is a long-acting beta-agonist (LABA). Umeclidinium is a long-acting antimuscarinic agent, which is often referred to as an anticholinergic. Both of these drugs work in different ways to keep the muscles that surround the airways from tightening.1

What are the possible side effects of Anoro Ellipta?

The most common side effects include:1

  • Sore throat
  • Sinus infection
  • Common cold symptoms
  • Lower respiratory tract infection
  • Constipation, diarrhea
  • Arm or leg pain
  • Muscle spasms
  • Neck pain
  • Chest pain

Anoro Ellipta may also cause serious side effects, including:1

  • Allergic reactions like rash, hives, or breathing problems
  • Eye problems like blurred vision or eye pain
  • Increased blood pressure
  • Fast or irregular heartbeat
  • Chest pain
  • Tremors
  • High blood sugar
  • Low potassium levels
  • Difficult or painful urination

People with asthma who only take LABA medicines like vilanterol (one of the active ingredients in Anoro Ellipta) have an increased risk of death from asthma problems. If your breathing problems quickly worsen after taking Anoro Ellipta, contact 9-1-1 right away.1

These are not all the possible side effects of Anoro Ellipta. Talk to your doctor about what to expect or if you experience any changes that concern you during treatment with Anoro Ellipta.

Things to know about Anoro Ellipta

Anoro Ellipta should not be used if you have a severe allergy to milk proteins, umeclidinium, vilanterol, or any other ingredients in this drug.1

Before using Anoro Ellipta, tell your doctor if you have:1

  • Heart problems
  • High blood pressure
  • Seizures
  • Thyroid problems
  • Diabetes
  • Liver problems
  • Eye problems, including glaucoma
  • Prostate or bladder problems

There is not enough data to know if Anoro Ellipta is safe to take while pregnant or breastfeeding. Before taking Anoro Ellipta, tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or breastfeeding.1

Anoro Ellipta may interact with other medicines. Before beginning treatment for COPD, tell your doctor about all your health conditions and any other drugs, vitamins, or supplements you are taking. This includes over-the-counter drugs.

For more information, read the full prescribing information of Anoro Ellipta.

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