Many Americans have felt their stomach drop when they see the cost of their asthma inhalers. Unfortunately, asthma inhaler costs have steadily risen over the past several years, and many people are shocked to learn that even a single inhaler can cost hundreds of dollars. This means one Breo Ellipta inhaler, despite being a once-daily inhaler for asthma or COPD, could cost as much as $400, making it unaffordable for patients across the nation.
The same trend has affected many COPD medications, too, contributing to rising asthma medication costs across the board.
In this article, we’ll explain Breo Ellipta, how it works, why inhalers like it are so expensive, and how to use it properly.
Plus, you’ll learn practical ways to manage costs and avoid common mistakes that can reduce the inhaler’s effectiveness.
What Is Breo Ellipta?
Breo Ellipta is a brand-name prescription combination inhaler that contains two active medications in one device:
- Fluticasone furoate, an inhaled corticosteroid (ICS)
- Vilanterol, a long-acting beta-agonist (LABA)
Together, these medications make Breo Ellipta a combination maintenance inhaler designed for long-term symptom control.
Breo Ellipta is taken once daily and uses the Ellipta device, a dry powder inhaler that delivers a measured dose when you open the cover and inhale.
A maintenance inhaler like Breo Ellipta reduces inflammation and prevents symptoms over time. Rescue inhalers (like albuterol) treat sudden symptoms and asthma attacks. Breo Ellipta should not be used as a rescue inhaler.
What Is Breo Ellipta Used For?
Breo Ellipta is prescribed for long-term control in two major conditions:
- Asthma (in adults)
- COPD treatment, including chronic bronchitis and emphysema
For asthma, Breo Ellipta helps reduce wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath.
For COPD, Breo Ellipta can help reduce flare-ups and improve breathing by lowering inflammation and keeping airways more open.
However, it’s critical to know what Breo Ellipta is not for:
- It is not a rescue inhaler
- It is not for sudden asthma attacks
- It should not be used as a replacement for quick-relief medication
Because it’s a maintenance inhaler, Breo Ellipta works best when it’s used daily and consistently, even on days when you feel fine. Skipping doses can reduce symptom control and increase the risk of flare-ups.
How Breo Ellipta Works in the Lungs
In both asthma and COPD, the airways can inflame and narrow. In asthma, inflammation is often triggered by allergens, infections, smoke, exercise, or environmental irritants. In COPD, long-term irritation—often from smoking or air pollution—causes chronic inflammation and airway damage.
Breo Ellipta uses a two-part approach:
How fluticasone reduces inflammation
Fluticasone furoate is a corticosteroid that works in the lungs. It helps reduce swelling and irritation in the airway lining. Over time, this can make the airways less reactive and less likely to tighten up.
When inflammation is controlled, people often experience fewer symptoms, fewer nighttime awakenings, and fewer asthma or COPD exacerbations.
How vilanterol helps keep airways open
Vilanterol is a long-acting bronchodilator. It relaxes the muscles surrounding the airways, helping them stay open longer. This improves airflow and reduces the “tight chest” feeling many patients experience.
Why combination therapy helps
Combination therapy is often more effective than using only one type of medication. The steroid reduces the underlying inflammation, while the LABA helps keep airways open. Together, they may provide improved breathing control over either medication alone.
Why Are Asthma Inhalers Like Breo Ellipta So Expensive?
Why are asthma inhalers expensive? Unfortunately, it’s not just one thing. Pricing is shaped by patents, device complexity, and insurance system factors.
Here are the biggest reasons Breo Ellipta cost can be so high.
Breo Ellipta is a brand-name inhaler
Brand-name drugs often have patent protections that delay competition. Without competition, the manufacturer can keep the price high. Even when patents begin to expire, inhalers can remain protected longer because both the medication and the device design can be patented.
However, there are alternatives and generic options available for those looking for a Breo Ellipta substitute.
Combination Therapy in One Device
Breo Ellipta contains two medications in a single inhaler, which adds both clinical value and convenience.
Instead of paying for two separate inhalers (and remembering two separate schedules), many patients can manage their condition with one once-daily device. That convenience matters—and it’s part of what makes combination inhalers more expensive.
Complex Inhaler Device Design
Inhalers are not simple plastic tubes. The Ellipta device is designed to deliver a very specific dose of dry powder medication into the lungs.
That means the device must be:
- Consistent and accurate with dosing
- Stable over time (humidity and storage matter)
- Reliable in real-world patient use
This precision dosing technology adds manufacturing complexity. The product also requires extensive quality control testing, as well as meeting regulations to ensure each inhaler delivers medication safely and consistently.
Insurance and Formulary Factors
Even if a manufacturer sets a “list price,” the amount a patient pays often depends on insurance.
Inhalers are heavily affected by:
- Insurance formulary placement (what tier the drug is on)
- Prior authorization requirements
- Copays vs. coinsurance (a fixed fee vs. a percentage)
Some plans treat inhalers as specialty drugs, meaning patients may pay a percentage of the cost.
Pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) also influence inhaler pricing by negotiating rebates and deciding which inhalers get preferred placement. Sadly, the system doesn’t always reward lower-priced options. These behind-the-scenes pricing dynamics can contribute to higher out-of-pocket costs, even when alternatives exist.
Understanding the Breo Ellipta Inhaler Device
Learning how to use Breo Ellipta correctly matters. If your technique is off, you may not get the full dose, which can lead to poor symptom control even when you’re “taking your medication.”
The Ellipta device is a dry powder inhaler, which works differently from a pressurized rescue inhaler.
Here’s the general step-by-step process offered by the manufacturer:
- Open the cover fully until you hear a click
- (This loads the dose.)
- Breathe out fully, away from the mouthpiece
- (Never breathe into the inhaler.)
- Seal your lips around the mouthpiece
- Take one long, steady, deep breath in
- Hold your breath for about 3–4 seconds if possible
- Remove the inhaler and breathe out slowly
- Close the device
Common mistakes include:
- Opening and closing the cover without inhaling (wasting doses)
- Not inhaling deeply enough to pull powder into the lungs
- Exhaling into the device (moisture can ruin the powder)
- Taking multiple inhalations per dose when not instructed
Correct technique can be the difference between “this inhaler doesn’t work” and “this inhaler changed my life.”
Tips to Get the Most Benefit From Breo Ellipta
Some helpful tips:
- Use it at the same time each day. This builds consistency.
- Rinse your mouth after use to reduce the risk of oral thrush and irritation.
- Check the built-in dose counter to avoid running out unexpectedly.
- Pay attention to symptoms, especially increasing shortness of breath, wheezing, or frequent rescue inhaler use.
Contact your healthcare provider if your symptoms don’t improve after consistent use, or if you need your rescue inhaler more often. That can be a sign your asthma or COPD isn’t well-controlled.
Managing the Cost of Breo Ellipta
If you’re struggling with asthma inhaler cost, you’re not stuck. There are several practical ways to reduce out-of-pocket costs or find a more affordable plan.
Start with these options:
Check your insurance formulary
Insurance plans typically prefer certain inhalers. Even if your provider prescribes Breo Ellipta, your plan may cover a different ICS/LABA combination inhaler at a lower tier.
Ask about therapeutic equivalents
There may be other inhalers with similar medication types (ICS + LABA) that your provider can prescribe, which may offer comparable symptom control.
Look for manufacturer savings programs
Some brand-name inhalers have savings cards, coupons, or patient assistance options. Eligibility varies, especially for patients with Medicare or Medicaid, but it can be worth checking.
Compare pharmacy prices
Prices can vary widely between pharmacies. In some cases, cash prices at certain pharmacies may be lower than your insurance copay.
Discuss other inhaler options with your provider
If cost is making it hard to stay consistent, tell your provider. Many patients feel awkward bringing this up, but it’s a medical issue that is worth addressing.
Finally, some patients explore prescription assistance programs for ongoing cost support, especially when they need long-term maintenance therapy and insurance coverage still leaves a high out-of-pocket burden. Companies such as Prescription Hope provide access to these programs for those who qualify.
Conclusion
Breo Ellipta and similar maintenance inhalers often come with high price tags, and it’s not just because of the medication itself. The combination therapy, complex inhaler device design, and insurance formulary systems all contribute to why these products cost so much.
Understanding how Breo Ellipta works, and how to use the Ellipta device correctly, can help you get the best symptom control possible. And if cost is getting in the way, you’re not alone. With the right conversations and a few strategic steps, many patients can find better options for asthma medication affordability and long-term support.
If you’re paying too much at the pharmacy, don’t just accept it as “normal.” Ask questions, or enroll online with Prescription Hope and start saving today!
