BREO is a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) & asthma medication, available as an inhaled combination treatment. Here’s our BREO review.
What Is BREO?
BREO is a prescription medication designed to make it easier to breathe for people who suffer from asthma and COPD. BREO is formulated to be taken once every 24 hours and works in conjunction with other similar medicines, such as emergency rescue inhalers.
BREO Features: How Does It Work?
The ingredients in BREO (discussed below) work to improve lung function. The two medications that comprise BREO work in tandem to open air passages within the lung, making it easier to breathe deeply. The effects last for around 24 hours, which makes it necessary to take a dose of BREO every day.
Who Makes BREO?
BREO is made by GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), a major pharmaceutical manufacturer based in the United Kingdom and with offices in over 100 countries around the globe. GSK employs some 99,000 people.
GSK makes and sells a multitude of different over-the-counter products and prescription medications, Many of the medications researched and developed by the company have become so crucial as to be added to the World Health Organization’s list of essential medications.
GSK focuses on prescription medications to treat asthma, cancer, infections, diabetes and mental health, to name but a few.
BREO Ingredients
There are two main ingredients that comprise BREO: fluticasone furoate, an inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) that works as an anti-inflammatory agent, and vilanterol, a a long-acting beta2-adrenergic agonist (LABA) medicine that acts as a bronchiodilator.
The balance of ingredients is 100 mcg of fluticasone furoate and 25 mcg of vilanterol.
BREO Pricing
As a prescription medication, you can only gain access to BREO if your doctor feels it’s right for you. As a result, the cost of BREO can fluctuate wildly depending on whether your insurance will cover the expense.
The price of BREO, before insurance, can be anywhere from $290 to $380 for one to two months’ worth of medication. This price can be mitigated to a degree by prescription discount programs if your insurance provider will not cover the cost of BREO, or if you do not have insurance to begin with. If your insurance does cover BREO, you may be asked to pay a fraction of the price as a co-pay. This amount will differ from one insurer to the next.
BREO Reviews: What Do Customers Have to Say?
User reviews for BREO are mostly positive, with ratings on Drugs.com averaging in at around 6.8 out of 10. It’s rated highly for treating COPD at an 8.2 out of 10, but was rated less effective in treating asthma (6.8).
Pros:
Excellent for treating COPD – almost every reviewer who took BREO for COPD has been very pleased with how effective the medication is for controlling their condition. These individuals report BREO working much better – and much faster than older medications they had been on in the past.
Good for treating asthma – while not quite as effective overall in controlling asthma, those who do find that BREO works for them say that it’s better than other medications. Some have claimed that it’s reduced their need to use rescue inhalers by a considerable margin, sometimes by up to half.
Cons:
May not work for long – long-term use of BREO may result in patients reaching a plateau on the drug. The effectiveness of the medication seems to peak and then decline after five to six months for many who have COPD and asthma, making it a frustrating experience to find a drug that seemingly works so well only to have it stop working after around half a year.
Side effects – there are several side effects associated with BREO. The most common are headaches, upper respiratory tract infections, a runny nose and sore throat, and thrush (a common fungal infection in the mouth or throat). More serious but less common side-effects include pneumonia, reduced immune system response, reduced adrenal function, nervous system and cardiovascular issues, and serious allergic reactions among just a few.
Should You Buy BREO?
If you suffer from COPD or asthma and you find that your current medications aren’t providing you with as much relief as you would like from your conditions, you may want to try BREO.
As BREO is not available over the counter, you will need a prescription from your doctor in order to get BREO. Being able to afford the medication is going to be dependent on whether you’re insured, and also whether your medical insurance will approve the use of the drug.
If your insurer doesn’t – or if you’re uninsured – you may find BREO out of your price range without the use of a pharmacy discount club or similar membership card.
If you do try BREO, please be aware of its limitations and possible side effects. You must be prepared for the possibility that the medication will work well for just a few months before becoming less effective.
Also, be on the lookout for respiratory infections as well, as these tend to be some of the most common side effects of taking BREO.
I purchased my Breo inhalant last week. I have made several attempts to get anything to come out. I am on Medicaid, and unfortunately, I can’t just put in for a refill. And the pharmacy won’t return the item. Got a suggestion? I can’t afford to purchase outright, and I really like how the inhalant works