umeclidinium and vilanterol

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Pronunciation: ue ME kli DIN ee um and vye LAN ter ol

Brand: Anoro Ellipta

What is the most important information I should know about umeclidinium and vilanterol?

Umeclidinium and vilanterol is for use only in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and should not be used to treat asthma.

Vilanterol may increase the risk of death in people with asthma, but the risk in people with COPD is not known. Seek medical attention if your breathing problems do not improve, or if your symptoms get worse quickly.

Umeclidinium and vilanterol will not work fast enough to treat a bronchospasm attack. Use only a fast acting inhalation medicine for an attack.

What is umeclidinium and vilanterol?

Umeclidinium is an anticholinergic. Vilanterol is a bronchodilator. These medications work by relaxing muscles in the airways to improve breathing.

Umeclidinium and vilanterol is a combination medicine used to prevent airflow obstruction or bronchospasm in people with COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease).

Umeclidinium and vilanterol may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking umeclidinium and vilanterol?

You should not use this medicine if you are allergic to umeclidinium, vilanterol, or milk proteins. Umeclidinium and vilanterol is for use only in people with COPD and should not be used to treat asthma.

To make sure this medicine is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have:

  • heart disease, high blood pressure;
  • epilepsy or other seizure disorder;
  • liver disease;
  • narrow-angle glaucoma;
  • diabetes (or ketoacidosis);
  • thyroid disorder; or
  • an enlarge prostate, bladder obstruction, or urination problems.

Vilanterol may increase the risk of death in people with asthma, but the risk in people with COPD is not known. Talk with your doctor about your individual risks and benefits of using this medicine. Follow all patient instructions for safe use.

It is not known whether this medicine will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

It is not known whether umeclidinium and vilanterol passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. You should not breast-feed while using this medicine.

This medicine is not approved for use by anyone younger than 18 years old.

How should I use umeclidinium and vilanterol?

Follow all directions on your prescription label. Do not use this medicine in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended.

Using this medicine improperly can cause death or serious side effects on the heart.

You may need to stop using other COPD medications you have been using in the past on a regular basis. Carefully follow your doctor's dosing instructions.

The usual dose of this medicine is 1 inhalation per day. Use the medicine at the same time each day, and not more than once in a 24-hour period.

Umeclidinium and vilanterol will not work fast enough to treat a bronchospasm attack. Use only a fast-acting inhalation medicine for an attack. Tell your doctor if any of your medicines seem to stop working as well in controlling your COPD.

Umeclidinium and vilanterol is a powder that comes with a special inhaler device preloaded with blister packs containing measured doses of the medicine. The device opens and loads a blister of umeclidinium and vilanterol each time you use the inhaler. Follow the patient instructions provided with the inhaler device.

Seek medical attention if your breathing problems do not improve, or if your symptoms get worse quickly.

Store at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light. Keep the inhaler device in the sealed foil tray until ready to start using it.

Throw the inhaler device away 6 weeks after you have taken it out of the foil pouch, or if the dose indicator shows a zero, whichever comes first.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Use the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not use extra medicine to make up the missed dose. Do not use more than 1 inhalation in a single day.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

Overdose symptoms may include fast heart rate, and feeling shaky or short of breath.

What should I avoid while using umeclidinium and vilanterol?

Do not use a second inhaled bronchodilator similar to vilanterol, such as salmeterol (Advair, Serevent), formoterol or arformoterol (Foradil, Perforomist, Symbicort, Brovana) unless your doctor has told you to.

What are the possible side effects of umeclidinium and vilanterol?

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Call your doctor at once if you have:

  • wheezing, choking, or other breathing problems after using this medication;
  • chest pain;
  • fast or pounding heartbeats;
  • tremors, nervousness;
  • blurred vision, tunnel vision, eye pain or redness, or seeing halos around lights;
  • painful or difficult urination, urinating more or less than usual;
  • increased blood pressure --severe headache, blurred vision, pounding in your neck or ears, anxiety, confusion, chest pain;
  • high blood sugar --increased thirst or urination, hunger, dry mouth, fruity breath odor; or
  • low potassium --leg cramps, constipation, irregular heartbeats, numbness or tingling, muscle weakness or limp feeling.

Common side effects may include:

  • stuffy nose, sinus pain, sore throat;
  • mild chest pain, cough with mucus;
  • diarrhea, constipation;
  • muscle spasms; or
  • pain in your neck, arms, or legs.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What other drugs will affect umeclidinium and vilanterol?

Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any you start or stop using, especially:

  • atropine;
  • an antibiotic, antifungal medicine, or antiviral medicine (to treat hepatitis C or HIV/AIDS);
  • bladder or urinary medicines;
  • other bronchodilators;
  • cold or allergy medicine that contains an antihistamine;
  • medication for Parkinson's disease; or
  • medication to treat excess stomach acid, stomach ulcer, motion sickness, or irritable bowel syndrome.

This list is not complete. Other drugs may interact with umeclidinium and vilanterol, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible interactions are listed in this medication guide.

Where can I get more information?

Your pharmacist can provide more information about umeclidinium and vilanterol.

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.

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