Breztri Aerosphere (Budesonide/Glycopyrrolate/Formoterol Fumarate) for Asthma

Breztri Aerosphere (budesonide/glycopyrrolate/formoterol fumarate) is a prescription medication approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to provide maintenance treatment for asthma in adults and children ages 12 and older.

How Breztri Aerosphere Works and How It's Taken

Breztri Aerosphere is a combination maintenance inhaler. It contains three medicines: budesonide, glycopyrrolate, and formoterol fumarate.

Budesonide helps lower swelling in the lungs. Glycopyrrolate helps keep airway muscles from tightening. Formoterol fumarate is a long-acting beta2-agonist (LABA) that helps relax the muscles around the airways. In asthma, these effects can help make breathing easier.

Doctors prescribe Breztri Aerosphere when adults or children ages 12 and older need ongoing maintenance treatment for asthma. It is not a rescue inhaler. Do not use it for sudden breathing problems.

Breztri Aerosphere is breathed in through the mouth as an inhalation aerosol. It is taken twice daily, once in the morning and once in the evening.

Rinse your mouth with water after each dose, then spit the water out. Do not swallow it. This can help lower the chance of getting thrush, which is a fungal infection in the mouth or throat.

Typical Dosing for Asthma

The recommended dose of Breztri Aerosphere for asthma is two inhalations of 160 micrograms/18 micrograms/4.8 micrograms twice daily by oral inhalation. Take two inhalations in the morning and two inhalations in the evening.

Do not take more than two inhalations of Breztri Aerosphere two times each day. Breztri Aerosphere does not relieve sudden breathing problems. Do not take extra doses to treat sudden symptoms.

This information is based on the prescribing information, but your healthcare provider may tailor your treatment plan. Always follow their guidance.

Breztri Aerosphere Side Effects

In clinical studies of Breztri Aerosphere for the maintenance treatment of asthma in adults and children ages 12 and older, the most common side effects occurred in about 2 percent to 9.4 percent of people. These include:

Nasopharyngitis (common cold-type symptoms)
Pneumonia (lung infection)
Headache

Serious Side Effects and Warnings

Breztri Aerosphere can cause serious side effects that may require immediate medical attention. These include:

Serious asthma-related events — The risk of asthma-related hospitalizations, intubations, or death is increased when LABAs are used alone without an inhaled corticosteroid.
Worsening asthma or sudden breathing problems — This medication is not for quick relief of sudden symptoms.
Oropharyngeal candidiasis (oral thrush) — A yeast infection can occur in the mouth or throat.
Serious infections — These can include worsening of existing infections and more severe chickenpox or measles in people who are not immune.
Adrenal suppression or hypercorticism — Effects on the body's natural steroid hormones can occur.
Paradoxical bronchospasm — Sudden tightening of the airways can occur right after using the inhaler.
Hypersensitivity — Anaphylaxis, a life-threatening allergic reaction, can occur.
Cardiovascular effects — Heart and blood vessel effects can include fast heart rate, chest pain, or abnormal heart rhythms.
Reduced bone mineral density — Weaker bones can raise the risk of fractures.
Slowed growth — Slowed growth can occur in children and teens.
Eye problems — Glaucoma or cataracts can occur, including worsening of narrow-angle glaucoma.
Urinary retention — Trouble urinating or inability to empty the bladder can occur.
Hypokalemia and hyperglycemia — Low potassium and high blood sugar can be serious.

Get medical help right away if you think you are having a serious reaction.

How To Save on Breztri Aerosphere

AstraZeneca, the manufacturer of Breztri Aerosphere, offers the Breztri Zero Pay program. Eligible people with commercial insurance may pay as little as $0.

The Breztri Zero Pay program also offers the Breztri Support Experience, which includes a welcome package, information about the Breztri Zero Pay Savings Card, newsletters, and instructions on how to use the Breztri Aerosphere inhaler.

Government restrictions exclude people enrolled in federal government insurance programs from copay support. To learn more, visit the Breztri Zero Pay program or call 833-458-0440.

What To Know Before Taking Breztri Aerosphere

Tell your doctor if you have any allergies to budesonide/glycopyrrolate/formoterol fumarate or any ingredients in Breztri Aerosphere.

Tell your doctor about all medicines you take, including prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

Especially tell your doctor if you take:

Anticholinergics, including tiotropium, ipratropium, aclidinium, and umeclidinium
Other LABAs, including salmeterol, formoterol fumarate, arformoterol tartrate, vilanterol, olodaterol, and indacaterol
Atropine
Antifungal medicines
Anti-HIV medicines

Before using Breztri Aerosphere, tell your doctor about all of your medical conditions. Tell them if you have heart problems, high blood pressure, seizures, thyroid problems, diabetes, liver problems, kidney problems, weak bones, or an immune system problem.

Also tell your doctor if you have eye problems, such as glaucoma or cataracts. Breztri Aerosphere may make glaucoma worse. Tell them if you have prostate or bladder problems, or trouble passing urine.

Tell your doctor if you have any viral, bacterial, parasitic, or fungal infection. Also tell them if you are exposed to chickenpox or measles.

Do not use Breztri Aerosphere if you:

Are having status asthmaticus, a severe asthma attack that needs emergency treatment
Are having another sudden, severe episode of asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) that needs emergency treatment
Have had a serious allergic reaction to budesonide, glycopyrrolate, formoterol, or any of the ingredients

Breztri Aerosphere is also FDA-approved for the maintenance treatment of COPD in adults.

If you miss a dose of Breztri Aerosphere, take it as soon as possible. Then take your next dose at the usual time. Do not take more than one dose to make up for a missed dose.

If you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding while taking Breztri Aerosphere, talk with your doctor about the risks and benefits.

Community FAQs

These answers are fact-checked by our editorial staff.

How effective is Breztri Aerosphere for asthma?

In two asthma studies that lasted 24 to 52 weeks, Breztri Aerosphere improved lung function compared with budesonide/formoterol fumarate. Lung function was measured using FEV1. FEV1 stands for forced expiratory volume in one second.

FEV1 measures how much air a person can forcefully breathe out in one second. A higher FEV1 can mean better airflow.

At week 24, one study showed a 68 milliliter improvement in FEV1 over the first three hours after dosing. It also showed a 42 milliliter improvement in trough FEV1, which is the FEV1 measured before the next dose.

The other study showed a 134 milliliter improvement in FEV1 over the first three hours after dosing. It also showed a 107 milliliter improvement in trough FEV1.

In pooled results from the two studies, the severe asthma flare-up rate was 0.54 with Breztri Aerosphere and 0.60 with budesonide/formoterol fumarate. This means the flare-up rates were similar in the two groups.

How long does Breztri Aerosphere take to work for asthma?

The formoterol fumarate part of Breztri Aerosphere has a rapid onset of action. In asthma studies, Breztri Aerosphere started to improve lung function within five minutes on day 1 for some people. This was measured by FEV1.

The studies also measured lung function at week 24. These study results do not say exactly when asthma symptom improvement begins.

Breztri Aerosphere is not a rescue inhaler. Do not use it to treat sudden breathing problems.

What tests or monitoring are needed with Breztri Aerosphere for asthma?

The prescribing information does not list routine lab tests for everyone taking Breztri Aerosphere for asthma.

Children and teens who take Breztri Aerosphere should have their growth checked regularly.

People who have risk factors for weak bones may need bone health monitoring. These risk factors can include older age, smoking, poor nutrition, or long-term use of medicines that can weaken bones.

People who use Breztri Aerosphere long term, or who develop eye symptoms, may need an eye exam. Breztri Aerosphere may increase the risk of cataracts or glaucoma.

People with severe liver disease should be closely monitored. This is because some medicines in Breztri Aerosphere may build up in the body.