Relvar Ellipta

What is Relvar Ellipta?

Relvar Ellipta is a combination inhaler that contains two medicines, providing effective relief from asthma and COPD symptoms. It’s usually taken once every 24 hours, which means a single dose can be enough to help you breathe easier for the whole day.

How do Relvar Ellipta inhalers work?

The two active ingredients in Relvar Ellipta work in different ways to control your asthma and COPD.

Fluticasone furoate is an inhaled corticosteroid that reduces swelling and inflammation in your airways.
Vilanterol is a long-acting bronchodilator (LABA) that relaxes the muscles around your airways, keeping them open for up to 24 hours.

Together, they help prevent symptoms and make breathing easier.^[1]

Which dose of Relvar Ellipta shall I use?

The strength of Relvar Ellipta prescribed to you depends on whether you’re treating asthma or COPD:

The 184/22 mcg dose isn’t used for COPD because it doesn’t provide any extra benefit for that condition.

How to use your Relvar Ellipta inhaler

Relvar Ellipta is straightforward and easy to use. Each inhaler comes packaged in an airtight foil tray that contains a desiccant sachet to reduce moisture. You can throw that away, then all you need to do is remove the inhaler from the tray and it’s ready to use.

Once you’ve removed it, the inhaler will be in a ‘closed’ position. Don’t open your Relvar Ellipta until you’re ready to use it, as doing so releases a dose (we’ll explain more about this in a minute).

Your inhaler also comes with a ‘Discard date’, which is six weeks from the date you opened it. If you’re using it every day you shouldn’t have to worry about it expiring, but you can write the discard date in the space provided.

When you’re ready to use it:

1. Slide the cover down until you hear a click. This releases a dose of powdered medicine. Your dose counter will drop down by 1, so you’ll always know you’ve readied a single dose to be inhaled.
2. Hold the inhaler away from your mouth, and breathe out as far as you can.
3. Create a tight seal with your lips around the mouthpiece.
4. Take one long,steady, deep breath in. Do not breathe through your nose. Hold your breath for at least 3-4 seconds (or for as long as is comfortable).
5. Remove the inhaler and breathe out slowly.
6. Close the inhaler and rinse your mouth.

It’s also recommended that you rinse your mouth out after each use of your Relvar Ellipta inhaler, as corticosteroid inhalers can sometimes cause minor issues (like sore throat or dry mouth). If you feel that you need to clean the mouthpiece, you can wipe it with a tissue.

Is Relvar Ellipta a brown inhaler?

It might seem a little confusing that preventers go by several names and often come in different colours. For years, steroid inhalers (also known as corticosteroids) were brown, and as a result became referred to simply as ‘brown’ inhalers. For the same reason, short-acting-beta-agonists (relievers) such as Salbutamol gained the reputation of being called ‘blue’ inhalers.

But this doesn’t mean your preventer will be brown. Healthcare professionals have raised concerns in the past about the potential confusion that the inhaler colour system could cause – so much so that the mouthpiece cover of both strengths of Relvar Ellipta were changed in the UK from blue to yellow, so to avoid anyone getting their preventer and reliever inhalers mixed up. ^[1]

So in a sense, your Relvar Ellipta is a ‘brown’ inhaler. Only it will actually be light-grey, with a yellow mouthpiece cover. You’ll use it once a day to effectively prevent daily asthma symptoms.

Can I get Relvar Ellipta over the counter?

No. Steroid inhalers are prescription only,^[2] so you’ll need to speak to a clinician before using a Relvar Ellipta inhaler. Because of the combination of corticosteroids and the LABA in the medication, you’ll need to know it’s suitable for you before you can begin treatment.