Breo Ellipta and Sore Throat: What Users Say

• Mar...
• April 16, 2017

For COPD "I've only been using it for two weeks. Other than a scratchy throat (which I recently learned to gargle with water after use), I feel incredibly better. I'm 60 and was diagnosed with emphysema about 1 year ago. I'm a desk jockey but a 'weekend warrior' in the back forty. I haven't felt this good in quite some time. Fingers crossed..."

• Jan...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 13, 2019

For Asthma, Maintenance "Breo 200/25 worked great for about 6 months. Never used my rescue inhaler. Now I have a chronic sore throat and raspy voice, chest pain, muscle spasms in both hands, fatigue, and insomnia. I can still breathe deeply, but the side effects are getting worse the longer I continue to use Breo. I plan to return to using Symbicort, the only side effect from that was a raspy voice. I was put on Spiriva Respimat also last month, but the combination of Spiriva and Breo caused me to totally lose my voice. I had to quit the Spiriva, voice loss and terrible heartburn/stomach pain."

• Wms...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 5, 2018

For COPD "Cough became better the 1st week, by the 2nd week, it worsened. Muscles ached the 1st week and continued to throughout use, as well as in the AM. My joints were very stiff! By the 3rd week, I had a continuous sore throat and couldn't wear my rings, and my shoes were cutting into my feet and were red! My eyes began to burn, and my nose swelled, turning bright red, like a triangle. The redness faded after 24 hours! My family complained that I was miserable, and I felt angry daily by the 3rd week, my eczema flared up, and I developed intense scalp itching. When I experienced stomach cramps on and off over 3 weeks and was constantly hungry, I knew this wasn't a coincidence! I have asthma, COPD, and bronchitis."

• Flu...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 28, 2018

For Asthma "My nebulizer and my rescue inhaler were working, but my pulmonologist wanted to wean me from both. Two days after starting Breo Ellipta, I started a wracking cough with ample sputum, sore throat, irritated sinuses, headache, nasal congestion, chest tightness, and unable to take a deep breath. I thought it was the flu or a bad cold and continued using it for a week while symptoms got worse. The doctor said I could also use the nebulizer if necessary, but I found out neither the nebulizer nor the rescue inhaler had any effect while using Breo. The doctor stopped the Breo, and in 36 hours all side effects disappeared except the cough, which is definitely better. Will not take again."

• JFE...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 9, 2019

For Asthma, Maintenance "PRO: Before I began taking this medication almost three years ago, I went through two rescue inhalers a month. Now I don't use them at all, and instead of struggling to find a way to get a refill, I have so many I'm afraid they will expire before I can use them. CON: I have to clear my throat a lot, and there is more drainage and sputum than before, but it's a very small price to pay for being able to breathe. Also, it is NOT covered by insurance, so I have to pray yearly I find the discount coupon online to cover the expense. It is about $450 without the coupon. Insurance needs to get on board."

• Ree...
• August 1, 2017

For Asthma "My doctor recommended 24-hour Breo to replace my Advair 250/50. In the first 4 days of taking Breo, I experienced most of the side effects of Breo (fever, chest infection, cough, mouth pain, excessive discharge, runny nose, sore throat, headache, back pain). I stopped taking Breo and went back to Advair. Will wait and see when the medication is improved. Thanks, Raed."

• Bre...
• July 29, 2016

For Asthma "My doctor changed my medication from Advair and Ventolin to this new highly recommended medication, Breo. This is my second week taking it. I don't need any more Ventolin, and I have been using it 2 puffs every 4 hours for the past 25 years. I am taking one puff of Breo every 2-3 days, and it works better than anything else that I have been trying my entire life. Please note: I am eating tons of celery, this vegetable is magic. I think the combination of Breo and celery is amazing, and my body is happy. Please don't forget to rinse your mouth immediately after the puffer, otherwise, you will have other side effects like a sore throat."

• Mer...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 1, 2019

For COPD "It has not worked for me. Blurred vision, lethargy, sore throat, vocal changes (hoarseness), tremor, difficulty in concentration are amongst the side effects experienced. Further, a persistent chest infection, which may be related to using Stelara for Crohn's disease, may have had some influence on the outcome. I'll get by with Atrovent!"

• Gog...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 27, 2018

For Asthma "I made the mistake of buying a 90-day supply of Breo. It gives me a sore throat back where it hits when I inhale. My allergist even asked me about this irritation. Now I have an asthma attack, and I can’t get better because my throat is so sore. I believe that it is not doing its job, so I'm going back on the old tried and true. The steroid inhaler that has one Rx in it, and I don’t have to throw out after 6 weeks. It also costs less."

• hrp...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 18, 2016

For Asthma "I've been suffering with asthma for a few years now. I was diagnosed as an adult. Nothing would work for me. I was on so many different medications, constantly switching things, trying to get something to work. My allergist prescribed Breo to me around a month ago. I haven't had any wheezing, which is huge for me. No coughing. No shortness of breath. No runny nose. I can actually sleep through the night. It's the first time in years that I've felt like my lungs can fully fill up with air. It's amazing. The only reason I'm giving it a 9 instead of a 10 is because it's caused me to have a constant sore throat. At first, I thought I was getting sick, but after 2 weeks with no other symptoms, I looked it up and saw sore throat is pretty common."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 21, 2018

For Asthma "I was diagnosed with moderate persistent asthma, uncomplicated, as per my spirometry test from a pulmonary specialist. He prescribed Breo Ellipta 200 mcg and vilanterol 25 mcg. During the use of it once a day, I always had a hoarse voice, which eventually became laryngitis. I stopped the Breo, and all side effects were gone. I've always had seasonal allergies all my life. I do not get the wheezing or coughing or lack of breathing. I only get rapid breathing on exercise or overworking, which an albuterol inhaler stops. My absolute eosinophils were always high for the past 4 years. My pulmonary specialist said to see me in six months?"

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 16, 2016

For Asthma "After having asthma my whole life and trying every treatment for it, herbal or otherwise, I thought I had found my miracle. But after a day or two, my throat started hurting, and I thought I was getting sick. I am convinced it is the Breo. I would rather use my Albuterol rescue inhaler 3 to 4 times a day than feel like I can't swallow. I had an even worse experience with Symbicort. It made my breathing worse. Breo did work, so for the 1 week I used it for, no asthma attack, no nebulizer or inhaler, so this is why I give it 7 stars. But I cannot put up with the sore throat. I don't even want to eat."

• Sli...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 31, 2020

For Asthma "Best inhaler I've ever used, and I've had asthma for 40 years. I've been airlifted 3 times due to this condition. The only thing I hate about it is the sore throat, but that's child's play compared to not being able to walk 1 step without gasping for air. I'll take it forever."

• hrp...
• September 20, 2016

For Asthma "I was put on Breo Ellipta because my asthma is not well controlled on any other medication that I've previously been put on. For the first two weeks or so, it gave me a really sore throat, but that went away. I haven't had ANY asthma attacks since starting. It's completely stopped any wheezing as well. It's an amazing medication. I went from having several attacks - varying in severity - every day to none at all. It's also free for the first year with a coupon even if you don't have insurance. I'm so thankful for Breo Ellipta. Even if the sore throat would have stayed, I wouldn't have stopped using it. The benefits for me far outweigh the cons."

• Gam...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 12, 2022

For Asthma "I started taking Breo, and it worked fine. After a day or two, my voice started getting hoarse and raspy. Then I started getting cramps with bloating and diarrhea for the next week. I have been off of it for two days, and it seems to be getting better. It's too bad that it works, but the side effects are not worth it."

• Mjo...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 4, 2018

For Asthma, Maintenance "Sore throat, runny nose, coughing up phlegm. Improved my spirometry test score. Don't like side effects."

• Naj...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 7, 2016

For COPD, Maintenance "Has made a big improvement in my breathing. Just be sure to rinse your mouth well after using to avoid throat and mouth issues."