Breztri Aerosphere (budesonide/formoterol fumarate/glycopyrrolate) is a prescription drug that’s used to manage COPD. Breztri Aerosphere comes as an inhaler.

Breztri Aerosphere is used in adults for long-term treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Breztri Aerosphere isn’t used to treat asthma, and it shouldn’t be used as a rescue inhaler. To learn more, see the “What is Breztri Aerosphere used for?” section below.

Breztri Aerosphere basics

Breztri Aerosphere is a kind of triple-therapy combination inhaler. It contains three active ingredients:

Breztri Aerosphere is a brand-name medication. A generic version of the drug isn’t currently available.

Like most drugs, Breztri Aerosphere may cause mild or serious side effects. The lists below describe some of the more common side effects that Breztri Aerosphere may cause. These lists don’t include all possible side effects.

Keep in mind that side effects of a drug can depend on:

  • your age
  • other health conditions you have
  • other medications you take

Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you more about the potential side effects of Breztri Aerosphere. They can also suggest ways to help reduce side effects.

Mild side effects

Here’s a short list of some of the mild side effects that Breztri Aerosphere can cause. To learn about other mild side effects, talk with your doctor or pharmacist, or read Breztri Aerosphere’s prescribing information.

Mild side effects of Breztri Aerosphere that have been reported include:

Mild side effects of many drugs may go away within a few days to a couple of weeks. But if they become bothersome, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Serious side effects

Serious side effects from Breztri Aerosphere can occur, but they aren’t common. If you have serious side effects from this drug, call your doctor right away. But if you think you’re having a medical emergency, you should call 911 or your local emergency number.

Serious side effects of Breztri Aerosphere that have been reported include:

* For more information about this side effect, see the “Side effect focus” section below.

Side effect focus

Learn more about some of the side effects Breztri Aerosphere may cause.

Increased risk of infection

Breztri Aerosphere may reduce your immune system activity. Budesonide, one of Breztri Aerosphere’s active drugs,* is a corticosteroid. Corticosteroids work by decreasing the activity of your immune system, which can increase your risk of mild infections. Examples of mild infections include:

  • flu
  • upper respiratory infection, such as the common cold
  • UTI

Having reduced immune system activity can also increase your risk of serious infections, including:

Symptoms of infection vary, but a few general ones that may occur include chills, cough, and fever.

* An active drug is an ingredient that makes a medication work.

What might help

If you think you have an infection while using Breztri Aerosphere, contact your doctor. They can order tests to find out the cause of the infection. Then they might be able to recommend medication to treat it, such as an antibiotic or antiviral drug.

But if you think you’re having life threatening symptoms from an infection, get emergency medical help right away.

After each dose of Breztri Aerosphere, you should rinse your mouth with water. This can help prevent oral thrush. Be sure to spit the rinse water out instead of swallowing it.

Before you start using Breztri Aerosphere, tell your doctor if you have an infection. They may want to treat the infection before prescribing Breztri Aerosphere to you. And tell your doctor if you have or have had tuberculosis (TB). They may suggest a different drug to treat your chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Sudden breathing problems after using the drug

While not common, you may have sudden breathing problems after using Breztri Aerosphere. This is called paradoxical bronchospasm, and it’s a known serious but rare side effect of using inhalers.

Symptoms can include:

What might help

If you have sudden breathing problems during Breztri Aerosphere treatment, stop using the drug and contact your doctor immediately. You may take a dose of your rescue inhaler* if you have trouble breathing or your symptoms feel life threatening.

Your doctor will likely have you stop using Breztri Aerosphere. They can recommend other treatment options for your COPD.

* If you suddenly have trouble breathing, a rescue inhaler helps ease this by quickly opening up your airways.

Heart problems

In rare cases, Breztri Aerosphere can cause heart problems. This is a known side effect of formoterol fumarate, one of Breztri Aerosphere’s active drugs.

Heart problems that the drug may cause include:

You may have a higher risk of this side effect if you have certain heart problems already. Examples include irregular heart rhythm, coronary artery disease, or high blood pressure.

Symptoms of heart problems vary, but the following are a few general ones:

  • chest pain or tightness
  • dizziness
  • fainting
  • heart palpitations (feeling like your heart is pounding, beating faster than usual, or skipping a beat)

What might help

If you have symptoms of heart problems while using Breztri Aerosphere, contact your doctor right away. They may have you stop using the drug. But if your symptoms feel life threatening, call 911 or seek emergency medical help.

Before you start using Breztri Aerosphere, tell your doctor about any heart problems you have. They may monitor you more closely or recommend another treatment for your COPD.

Allergic reaction

Some people may have an allergic reaction to Breztri Aerosphere.

Symptoms of a mild allergic reaction can include:

A more severe allergic reaction is rare but possible. Symptoms of a severe allergic reaction can include swelling under your skin, typically in your eyelids, lips, hands, or feet. They can also include swelling of your tongue, mouth, or throat, which can cause trouble breathing.

Call your doctor right away if you have an allergic reaction to Breztri Aerosphere. But if you think you’re having a medical emergency, call 911 or your local emergency number.

Whether you have health insurance or not, cost may be a factor when you’re considering Breztri Aerosphere. What you’ll pay for Breztri Aerosphere may depend on several things, such as your treatment plan and the pharmacy you use.

Here are a few things to consider regarding cost:

  • Cost information and savings coupons: You can visit Optum Perks to get price estimates of what you’d pay for Breztri Aerosphere when using coupons from the site. See the coupon options below. (Note: Optum Perks coupons cannot be used with any insurance copays or benefits.)
  • Savings program: If you have questions about how to pay for your prescription, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. A program called Breztri Zero Pay may also be available.

You can also check out this article to learn more about saving money on prescriptions.

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Retail price refers to the manufacturer’s published list price and is up to date as of 3/2023. Retail and discounted prices are U.S.-only and can vary based on region and pharmacy. We cannot guarantee that the discounted price listed here will exactly match the price at your pharmacy. Please contact your pharmacy for the exact price.

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Symbicort and Breztri Aerosphere are both approved for long-term treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in adults. Symbicort is also FDA-approved to treat asthma in adults.

Breztri contains three active drugs: budesonide, glycopyrrolate, and formoterol fumarate. Symbicort contains budesonide and formoterol fumarate.

You should not use either Breztri Aerosphere or Symbicort as rescue inhalers. Rescue inhalers are used to quickly open your airways in an emergency.

You can talk with your doctor or pharmacist for details about how Breztri Aerosphere compares with Symbicort.

Both Breztri Aerosphere and Trelegy Ellipta can be prescribed for long-term treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). If you’d like to know how Breztri Aerosphere and Trelegy Ellipta compare, see this article. Also, be sure to talk with your doctor about which drug is right for your COPD.

Find answers to some commonly asked questions about Breztri Aerosphere.

How does Breztri Aerosphere compare with the alternatives Symbicort, Advair, and Spiriva?

Breztri Aerosphere, Symbicort (budesonide and formoterol fumarate), Advair (fluticasone propionate and salmeterol), and Spiriva (tiotropium bromide) are all inhalers prescribed to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). These drugs can cause some similar side effects and some different ones as well. They also have different dosages. And these inhalers should not be used together.

To learn more about how Breztri Aerosphere compares with these alternatives, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Does Breztri Aerosphere treat asthma?

No, Breztri Aerosphere doesn’t treat asthma. The drug hasn’t been studied for treating asthma, so it’s not known if it’s safe or effective for this condition.

If you’re interested in learning about drugs that are used to treat asthma, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Should I use Breztri Aerosphere to treat sudden breathing problems?

No, Breztri Aerosphere should never be used to treat sudden breathing problems.

Breztri Aerosphere isn’t a rescue inhaler. Rescue inhalers quickly open up your airways if you have a breathing emergency. Breztri Aerosphere doesn’t work quickly enough to be used as a rescue inhaler. Instead, it’s meant to be used every day, regardless of whether you’re having COPD symptoms.

During Breztri Aerosphere treatment, continue using your rescue inhaler, such as albuterol (ProAir), as your doctor instructs. And if your COPD symptoms ever feel life threatening, call 911 or seek emergency medical help.

Your doctor will recommend the dosage of Breztri Aerosphere that’s right for you. Below are commonly used dosages, but always take the dosage your doctor prescribes.

Form and strength

Breztri Aerosphere comes as an inhalation aerosol inside an inhaler. You use the inhaler to breathe in puffs of the drug through your mouth. (“Aerosphere” is the name of this device.)

Each inhalation contains 160 micrograms (mcg) of budesonide, 9 mcg of glycopyrrolate, and 4.8 mcg of formoterol fumarate.

Recommended dosage

To treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), you take two puffs of Breztri Aerosphere twice each day by mouth. Four puffs per day is the maximum dosage.

Questions about Breztri Aerosphere’s dosage

Below are answers to a few questions about Breztri Aerosphere’s dosage.

  • What if I miss a dose of Breztri Aerosphere? If you miss a dose of this drug, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. But if it’s almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at its scheduled time. Do not take more than one dose (two puffs) of Breztri Aerosphere to make up for a missed dose.
  • Will I need to use Breztri Aerosphere long term? If you and your doctor agree Breztri Aerosphere is working well for you, you’ll likely use the drug long term.
  • How long does Breztri Aerosphere take to work? Breztri Aerosphere begins working as soon as you take a dose. But you may not notice your condition getting better right away. Breztri Aerosphere is meant to work over time to help stop COPD symptoms from becoming worse.

If you have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), your doctor may suggest treatment with Breztri Aerosphere. It’s a brand-name prescription inhaler used for long-term treatment of COPD in adults. (This is also referred to as maintenance treatment.)

Breztri Aerosphere isn’t a cure for COPD. Instead, it works over time to help keep your lung function from getting worse. This may ease COPD symptoms.

Note: Breztri Aerosphere isn’t used to treat asthma, and it shouldn’t be used as a rescue inhaler.

If you suddenly have trouble breathing, a rescue inhaler will quickly open up your airways to help you breathe. Breztri Aerosphere doesn’t work quickly enough to be used this way. Instead, it’s meant to be used every day, regardless of whether you’re having COPD symptoms.

During Breztri Aerosphere treatment, continue using a rescue inhaler, such as albuterol (ProAir), as your doctor instructs. And if you have COPD symptoms that feel life threatening, call 911 or seek emergency medical help.

How Breztri Aerosphere works

Breztri Aerosphere is a kind of triple-therapy combination inhaler. It contains three active drugs, each of which works differently to help keep your airways open:*

  • Budesonide, an inhaled corticosteroid: Reduces inflammation in your airways, which can make it easier to breathe.
  • Formoterol fumarate, a long-acting beta-agonist: Helps to relax lung muscles and open up your airways.
  • Glycopyrrolate, an anticholinergic: Stops a certain chemical produced by your body from tightening your airways, which leads to lung muscle relaxation and opening up your airways.

* An active drug is an ingredient that makes a medication work.

Your doctor will explain how you should use Breztri Aerosphere. They’ll also explain how much to take and how often. Be sure to follow your doctor’s instructions.

Using Breztri Aerosphere

Breztri Aerosphere comes as an inhalation aerosol inside an inhaler. You use the inhaler to breathe in puffs of the drug. (“Aerosphere” is the name of this device.)

The recommended Breztri Aerosphere dose is two puffs taken by mouth twice each day.

After each dose of Breztri Aerosphere, you should rinse your mouth with water. This can help prevent oral thrush, a possible side effect of Breztri Aerosphere. Be sure to spit the rinse water out instead of swallowing it.

Breztri Aerosphere inhaler instructions

For details on using the Breztri Aerosphere inhaler, check out this guide from the drug’s manufacturer. It gives step-by-step instructions for the device. You can also see videos that show how to use Breztri Aerosphere on the manufacturer’s website.

Note: Breztri’s manufacturer has updated the Aerosphere inhaler design. If you received the original inhaler, you can see instructions for the old inhaler and the new inhaler on the manufacturer’s website (mentioned above).

If you still have questions about how to use your Breztri Aerosphere inhaler, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Accessible medication containers and labels

Certain pharmacies may provide medication labels that:

  • have large print
  • use braille
  • contain a code you can scan with a smartphone to change the text into audio

Your doctor or pharmacist may be able to recommend a pharmacy that offers these options if your current pharmacy doesn’t.

Using Breztri Aerosphere with other drugs

During Breztri Aerosphere treatment, you should continue using your rescue inhaler as instructed by your doctor. Breztri Aerosphere isn’t meant to be used as a rescue inhaler. For more information, see the “What is Breztri Aerosphere used for?” section above.

Your doctor may prescribe Breztri Aerosphere alone or with other drugs used for treating chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). If you have questions about using Breztri Aerosphere with other drugs, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Should I take my dose of Breztri Aerosphere with food?

You may take your dose of Breztri Aerosphere with or without food.

Questions for your doctor

You may have questions about Breztri Aerosphere and your treatment plan. It’s important to discuss all your concerns with your doctor.

Here are a few tips that might help guide your discussion:

  • Before your appointment, write down questions such as:
    • How will Breztri Aerosphere affect my body, mood, or lifestyle?
  • Bring someone with you to your appointment if doing so will help you feel more comfortable.
  • If you don’t understand something related to your condition or treatment, ask your doctor to explain it to you.

Remember, your doctor and other healthcare professionals are available to help you. And they want you to get the best care possible. So don’t be afraid to ask questions or offer feedback on your treatment.

Before using Breztri Aerosphere for your chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), it’s important to talk with your doctor. Some important things to discuss with your doctor when considering treatment with Breztri Aerosphere include your overall health and any medical conditions you may have.

You should also tell your doctor about any medications you may take.

Interactions

Taking a medication with certain vaccines, foods, and other things can affect how the medication works. These effects are called interactions.

Before using Breztri Aerosphere, be sure to tell your doctor about all medications you take, including prescription and over-the-counter kinds. Also, describe any vitamins, herbs, or supplements you use. Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you about any interactions these items may cause with Breztri Aerosphere.

Interactions with drugs or supplements

Breztri Aerosphere can interact with several kinds of drugs. These drugs include:

This list does not contain all kinds of drugs that may interact with Breztri Aerosphere. Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you more about these interactions and any others that may occur with Breztri Aerosphere.

Warnings

Breztri Aerosphere may not be right for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors that affect your health. Talk with your doctor about your health history before you start using Breztri. Be sure to tell them if any of the following factors apply to you:

Breztri Aerosphere and alcohol

There’s no known interaction between drinking alcohol and using Breztri Aerosphere.

But some research has shown that excessive drinking can worsen lung function over time. If you have COPD and choose to consume alcohol, it’s best to avoid drinking a lot of alcohol.

If you have questions about how much alcohol, if any, is safe to consume while using Breztri Aerosphere, talk with your doctor.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

It’s not known whether it’s safe to use Breztri Aerosphere while pregnant. If you’re pregnant or planning to become pregnant, talk with your doctor before you begin using the drug. They can discuss with you the risks and benefits of using Breztri Aerosphere during pregnancy. They can also tell you about alternative treatments that may be safer for you to use.

It’s also not known whether it’s safe to use Breztri Aerosphere while breastfeeding. Before you start using this drug, talk with your doctor about the best ways to feed your child during treatment.

Do not use more Breztri Aerosphere than your doctor prescribes. Using more than this can lead to serious side effects.

Symptoms of overdose

Symptoms caused by an overdose can include:

What to do in case you use too much Breztri Aerosphere

Call your doctor if you think you’ve used too much Breztri Aerosphere. You can also call 800-222-1222 to reach America’s Poison Centers, or use its online resource. But if you have severe symptoms, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number. Or go to the nearest emergency room.

If you have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), your doctor may recommend treatment with Breztri Aerosphere. It’s a prescription inhaler used for treating COPD in adults.

Before you start taking the drug, ask your doctor questions so you can learn more about Breztri Aerosphere. This can help you decide if it’s right for you. Here are a few questions to help you get started:

  • Should I stop taking any of my other COPD medications if I start using Breztri Aerosphere?
  • How will I know if Breztri Aerosphere is working for me?
  • Will I need to have lab tests during Breztri Aerosphere treatment? If so, what are they and how often will I need to have them?

To learn more about Breztri Aerosphere, see these articles:

To get information on different conditions and tips for improving your health, subscribe to any of Healthline’s newsletters. You may also want to check out the online communities at Bezzy. It’s a place where people with certain conditions can find support and connect with others.

Q:

My doctor told me Breztri Aerosphere isn’t a cure for my COPD. Can you tell me more about the benefits of taking the drug?

Anonymous

A:

While there is no cure for COPD, daily treatment with Breztri Aerosphere can help manage and decrease symptoms associated with COPD. It can also slow the worsening of the disease.

Studies show that using Breztri Aerosphere every day can help reduce flare-ups and hospitalizations, as well as improve your quality of life. If you have other concerns regarding Breztri Aerosphere and COPD, talk with your doctor.

The Healthline Pharmacist TeamAnswers represent the opinions of our medical experts. All content is strictly informational and should not be considered medical advice.

Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.

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