This product is used to control and prevent symptoms (such as wheezing and shortness of breath) caused by ongoing lung disease (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease-COPD, which includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema). Controlling symptoms of breathing problems helps you stay active. This inhaler contains 2 medications: umeclidinium and vilanterol. Both drugs work by relaxing the muscles around the airways in the lungs so they open up to make breathing easier. Umeclidinium belongs to a class of drugs known as anticholinergics. Vilanterol belongs to the class of drugs known as long-acting beta agonists (LABAs). Both drugs are also known as bronchodilators. This medication must be used regularly to be effective. It does not work right away and should not be used to relieve sudden shortness of breath. If sudden breathing problems occur, use your quick-relief inhaler as prescribed. Umeclidinium/vilanterol is not approved to treat asthma. People with asthma using long-acting inhaled beta agonists (such as vilanterol) without also using an inhaled corticosteroid may have an increased risk of serious (sometimes fatal) breathing problems.
Read the Patient Information Leaflet provided by your pharmacist before you start using this medication and each time you get a refill. Follow the illustrated directions for the proper use of this medication. If you have any questions, consult your doctor or pharmacist. Inhale this medication by mouth as directed by your doctor, usually once daily. Do not open the cover of the inhaler until you are ready to use it. Each time you open the cover, you prepare a dose of the medication. If you open and close the cover without inhaling the medication, you will lose the dose. To avoid wasting a dose, do not close the cover until after you have inhaled the medication. You may or may not taste/feel the drug when you inhale. Do not exhale into the device. Use this medication regularly to get the most benefit from it. Use it at the same time every day. Do not use it more than one time each day. Do not increase your dose, use this medication more often, or stop using it without first consulting your doctor. Your condition will not improve any faster, and your risk of side effects will increase. If you are using other inhalers at the same time, wait at least 1 minute between the use of each medication. If you have been using a quick-relief inhaler (such as albuterol, also called salbutamol in some countries) on a regular daily schedule (such as 4 times daily), you must stop this schedule and only use the quick-relief inhaler as needed for sudden shortness of breath. Consult your doctor for details. Learn which of your inhalers you should use every day and which you should use if your breathing suddenly worsens (quick-relief drugs). Ask your doctor ahead of time what you should do if you have new or worsening cough or shortness of breath, wheezing, increased sputum, waking up at night with trouble breathing, if you use your quick-relief inhaler more often, or if your quick-relief inhaler does not seem to be working well. Learn when you can treat sudden breathing problems by yourself and when you must get medical help right away. Tell your doctor if your condition does not improve or if it worsens.
Remember that your doctor has prescribed this medication because he or she has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects. Tell your doctor right away if you have any serious side effects, including: shaking (tremor), nervousness, difficult/painful urination, muscle cramps/weakness, increased thirst/urination. This medication may raise your blood pressure. Check your blood pressure regularly and tell your doctor if the results are high. Infrequently, this medication may cause sudden, severe wheezing/trouble breathing immediately after you use it. If this happens, use your quick-relief inhaler and get medical help right away. Get medical help right away if you have any very serious side effects, including: chest pain, fast/irregular heartbeat, severe dizziness, fainting, eye pain/swelling/redness, vision changes (such as seeing rainbows around lights at night, blurred vision). A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is rare. However, get medical help right away if you notice any symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, including: rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, trouble breathing. This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist. In the US - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or at www.fda.gov/medwatch. In Canada - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to Health Canada at 1-866-234-2345.
Store at room temperature away from light, heat, and moisture. Do not store in the bathroom. Do not open the sealed tray that the inhaler comes in until you are ready to use the new inhaler. Throw away the inhaler 6 weeks after first removing it from the tray or when the dose counter reads zero, whichever comes first. Keep all medications away from children and pets. Do not flush medications down the toilet or pour them into a drain unless instructed to do so. Properly discard this product when it is expired or no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company.
Drug interactions may change how your medications work or increase your risk for serious side effects. This document does not contain all possible drug interactions. Keep a list of all the products you use (including prescription/nonprescription drugs and herbal products) and share it with your doctor and pharmacist. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicines without your doctor's approval. Do not use other anticholinergic drugs (such as ipratropium, tiotropium) or LABA drugs (such as formoterol, salmeterol) while using this medication.
If someone has overdosed and has serious symptoms such as passing out or trouble breathing, call 911. Otherwise, call a poison control center right away. US residents can call their local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. Canada residents can call a provincial poison control center. Symptoms of overdose may include: shaking (tremor), chest pain, fast/irregular heartbeat, seizures.
