Incruse Ellipta alternatives: What can I take instead of Incruse Ellipta?

Compare Incruse Ellipta alternatives | Spiriva Respimat | Anoro Ellipta | Trelegy Ellipta | Breo Ellipta | Theophylline ER | Natural alternatives | How to switch meds

Incruse Ellipta is a brand name, dry powder inhaled medication that sees extensive use for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Those with this lung disease suffer from cough and shortness of breath, along with episodic flare-ups that lead to abrupt worsening. Medications like Incruse Ellipta, whose generic name is umeclidinium, are a foundational element in the treatment of COPD, including its emphysema and chronic bronchitis subtypes. The goal is to reduce symptoms and lessen the frequency of COPD exacerbations. Incruse Ellipta is used for long-term maintenance treatment and should not be used to treat sudden breathing problems as it is not a rescue inhaler. If you take Incruse Ellipta, you may find yourself looking for alternatives due to cost, difficulty with the inhaler mechanism, or side effects of Incruse Ellipta. We will review your other options here.

RELATED: Emphysema vs. COPD: What stage of COPD is emphysema?

What can I take in place of Incruse Ellipta?

Other alternatives to Incruse Ellipta

• Yuperli (revefenacin)
• Lonhala Magnair (glycopyrrolate)
• Bevespi Aerosphere (formoterol–glycopyrrolate)
• Breztri Aerosphere (budesonide–formoterol–glycopyrrolate)
• Atrovent HFA (ipratropium)
• Proair HFA (albuterol)
• Ventolin HFA (albuterol)
• Albuterol nebulizer solution
• Ipratropium–albuterol nebulizer solution
• Perforomist (formoterol)
• Brovana nebulizer solution (arformoterol)
• Serevent Diskus (salmeterol)
• Prednisone

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Top 5 Incruse Ellipta alternatives

1. Spiriva Respimat

Short-acting bronchodilator inhalers are the first step medications in addressing COPD. They can provide quick relief of symptoms like wheezing and shortness of breath, and if your symptoms are infrequent, you may only need a short-acting beta agonist like Proair HFA, short-acting muscarinic antagonist like Atrovent HFA, or a combination of the two such as Combivent HFA. 

On the other hand, more frequent symptoms may get your healthcare provider to advise a maintenance medication, to prevent symptoms and flare-ups. A long-acting bronchodilating agent, such as long-acting muscarinic antagonists (referred to as LAMAs or anticholinergics) or long-acting beta agonists (LABAs), would meet the need for sustained opening of the bronchial tubes. Incruse Ellipta, Spiriva Handihaler, and Tudorza Pressair are all LAMAs that utilize a dry powder inhaler mechanism. Dry powder inhalers require one quick inhalation to deliver the medicated inhalation powder to the lungs. Spiriva Respimat may be a good alternative for you to consider if the mechanism of Incruse Ellipta is a problem. By being a soft mist inhaler, Spiriva Respimat is often found to be easier to use. In addition, it may be a better option if you have a severe milk protein allergy, which is a contraindication to Incruse Ellipta and other dry powder inhalers.

2. Anoro Ellipta

If you are experiencing worsening symptoms or exacerbations despite use of Incruse Ellipta, Anoro Ellipta may be a good alternative to consider. Inhalers that combine two types of COPD medication are often used in these situations. Coupling a LAMA with a LABA produces a dual mechanism for bronchodilation. Anoro Ellipta is a combination LAMA-LABA dry powder inhaler and has the same manufacturer (GlaskoSmithKline or GSK) and design as Incruse Ellipta inhalers. Stiolto and Duaklir are LAMA-LABA combinations too. Due to the LABA content, Anoro Ellipta and other LAMA-LABA products can affect blood pressure and heart rate, unlike Incruse Ellipta which does not.

3. Trelegy Ellipta

Bronchodilators alone may not provide optimal relief. Adding an inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) to LAMA, LABA, or LAMA-LABA therapy may do more thanks to the steroid’s anti-inflammatory effect. This is helpful for airways in COPD that are typically inflamed and swollen. All three drug types, LAMA, LABA, and ICS, are available in one once-daily dry powder inhaler, Trelegy Ellipta. 

Having three mechanisms of action has both advantages and disadvantages. Trelegy Ellipta has the potential for more diverse possible side effects because of having three different medicines in it. ICS-containing inhalers, by being immune-suppressing to the airways, pose a risk of thrush and may increase the chance of pneumonia. In addition, more drug interactions need to be avoided with a three-component product. Despite these cautionary notes, Trelegy Ellipta may be a good option for you if Incruse Ellipta has failed to adequately control your COPD. It would not be difficult to switch; both inhalers have the same look and basic instructions.

4. Breo Ellipta

An allergy to the drug class or a problem related to urinary adverse effects or narrow-angle glaucoma may preclude LAMA use. Others may find LABAs more effective. If you find yourself in one of these scenarios, Breo Ellipta could be a worthy alternative to Incruse Ellipta. Breo Ellipta contains the steroid fluticasone furoate and combines a LABA formoterol and an ICS budesonide to provide two mechanisms for relief of COPD symptoms and prevention of exacerbations. Constructed similarly to GSK’s other Ellipta products, Breo Ellipta is a once-daily dry powder inhaler. 

If these types of inhalers pose a challenge for you to use, Symbicort is another LABA-ICS combination. It has a traditional inhaler format, one that is like short-acting bronchodilators like Proair HFA and Ventolin HFA. If you are familiar with one of these, you may find Symbicort easier to use than a dry powder inhaler. It requires twice-daily dosing, making it less convenient than Incruse Ellipta and Breo Ellipta. On a side note, Symbicort’s formoterol component acts fast, so you may notice that it produces both quick relief and long-lasting benefits. 

5. Theophylline ER

Maximum inhaler therapy is not always fully effective, or it may not be tolerable due to common side effects. If so, you may be wondering if there are oral options to add in or substitute. Phosphodiesterase inhibitors enter the discussion at these points. These agents reduce airway inflammation. Taken as a once-daily pill, Daliresp is a phosphodiesterase 4 inhibitor (PDE 4) that improves airflow and reduces COPD exacerbations. It is only approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for severe COPD. 

Theophylline ER is also a once-daily pill that inhibits phosphodiesterase, but it is approved for general COPD maintenance therapy. Unlike Daliresp, it is a nonselective inhibitor of the enzyme, rather than a PDE 4 inhibitor. Herein lies the problem with theophylline. It has a very narrow therapeutic window, meaning there is a fine line between the beneficial airway-opening effects of theophylline and its adverse effects such as headache, nausea, and diarrhea. Monitoring blood levels of theophylline is commonly advised to help avoid side effects from excessive dosing. Extensive drug interactions and liver metabolism are two other characteristics of theophylline that limit its use.

Natural alternatives to Incruse Ellipta

Prescription medications offer plenty of potential benefits, but it is not wrong to wonder about other ways to treat COPD. Quitting smoking could be incredibly advantageous. Doing so can slow down the deterioration in lung function compared to continuing to smoke. It is not easy to do, so you may want to ask about options like varenicline, Nicoderm CQ, and bupropion SR to help improve your likelihood of successful smoking cessation. 

Pulmonary rehabilitation can improve your quality of life and exercise capacity. Through specialized exercise therapy and education about lung disease, the series of rehab sessions can put you on the right track to feeling better. After completing the course, you will probably want to continue exercising to build on what you have gained.

Weight management may be worthwhile too. Weight loss could prove helpful if you are overweight. Advice on optimizing calorie and protein intake may be in order if you are losing weight with COPD. Either of these issues deserves a consultation with your healthcare professional for medical advice and evaluation. 

Specific nutrients and dietary patterns may be important. Low levels of vitamin D, zinc, potassium, magnesium, and selenium have been associated with higher COPD risk. Unfortunately, clinical trials to date are inconclusive about whether there is a benefit to supplementing them in COPD patients. Diets rich in fruits, vegetables, and oily fish might be beneficial for preventing or treating COPD. 

How to switch to an Incruse Ellipta alternative

For many reasons, Incruse Ellipta may still be the right choice for maintenance therapy of your COPD. If side effects or allergic reactions occur, you now know that you have other options. Step one is to speak with your healthcare provider to discuss the matter. Together, you can decide if it is best to move on from Incruse Ellipta and if so, which alternative to use instead. If cost is a concern, you can use your SingleCare prescription savings card at your local pharmacy to save up to 80% off your prescription.