BREO is steroidal and comes with a warning not to take it if you are an asthma patient . . . it is know to bring on premature death with asthma patients that's why I freaked out when the doc said I have some samples and I said hell no . . . .

I only have emphysema. No asthma :>)

I tried Breo Ellipta and it didn't seem to help me. I also tried Turdoza and had trouble getting the medicine to deliver with their product. I am in the very severe stage and probably don't have the power to inhale that type of delivery.

I have been on Symbicort (ICS/LABA) since 2007. January 2014 we added Tudotza Pressair (LAMA) to relax smooth airway muscle. I hope I use it correctly...within an hour following my Symbicort. The Tudorza allows my Combivent Respirmat to be used as an emergency inhaler. Combivent affects my heart but the Tudorza does not cause that.

zelli That is a good point about Tudorza delivery system being dependent on the ability to inhale for delivery of the powder. It took several ties but I think I do better with speed ... a fast inspiration as opposed to powerful inhaling. That is also why I wait an hour between my Symbicort ...so I have the ability to use the Tudorza inhaler.

Yes Ohana the few times I was finally able to get the Turdoza to release was after a fast inhale. It was just too frustrating to keep trying over and over for me. The makers of these inhalers should take this problem into consideration when they design them.

I have gotten better at triggering the Tudorza device & I credit that to the extra little 'umph' that med provides me with. Generally, only use it in the morning...saving the second dose for the disease process later down the road.

I use Symbicort for 6 years and Tudorza Pressair for 1 1/2 years and rescue and nebulizer Xopenex for 1 1/2 years.

I find Thudorza very helpful with out the side effects I had with Spiriva.

I was lucky that I didn't have a problem with the delivery of the Thudorza.

I hope you are all well and breathing easy,

Love Always, Holly

Holly,
Please share the sequence & time frames you use for taking Symbicort and Tudorza .

I use the Symbicort at 5:30 AM 5:30 PM (or there about:),

and use the Tudorza at 7:30 AM/ 7:30 PM.

I was told that its good to give some time between the two and they work better that way.

I hope this helps.

Easy Breathing to everyone,

Love to all, Holly



.

I had been waiting an hour between my Symbicort & Tudorza. Today, I waited 3 hours and got much better results. TY for sharing.

About a month ago Breo (1 x /day) was added to the Tudorza (2 x/day) and when needed PressAir (generic of Ventilon that I liked much better).

I too found the Breo to work well. I am told there is a small amount of steroid in it. I was given this because I was using too much PressAir (over 10x day) in part because I had an upper resp. infection for nearly 2 mos., fractured a rib from coughing and finally went to Pulm. Dr. for routine visit when he told me about the infection etc. I just thought I was having a rough time due to summer weather.

When given all the stuff (anitbiotics, cough specterate, Breo etc.) I aksed the Dr., how will I know what is taking care of the resp. infection if I take it all. He just shrugged. So, I took the anitbotics and maintained the Tudorza. The coughing subsided in a week and the resp. infection seemed clear. Then I tried the BREO and had the same reaction as you. I thought it worked so well, I stopped the Tudorza because of some other issues and I wondered if I was having some side affect to Tudorza. On my last visit 9/25, I was told the side affect (vag. bleeding) is not one of the side affects and to continue both as one compliments the other. I did some reading and now think I do have another issue with the bleeding especially being 4 years post-menopausal. So off to the Gyn next week I go. I had two incidents (1 day each) about 2 mos. apart after starting the Tudorza (in Feb this year) and more recently it is now nearly a month that the bleeding continues even after I stopped the Tudorza. My FeV1 went up to 21%! But the Dr. seemed pretty insistant that I use both. So, I am back on the Tudorza and Breo and do use the PressAir rescue much less. However, I still am not sure why both are needed. I seemed to be ok without the Tudorza.

The fact that there is steriod in it really bothers me. I know several people that had very serious illnesses develop due to steriods from blindness to kidney failure and a host of other issues. Their quality of life was the pits. Granted, they were (I think) on higher doses and over a long time ... as morbid as it sounds, I just hope that I go quicker before having to deal with anything like that because for me it is all about quality not quantity. The rib is definately on the mend, it has taken about 6 weeks.

My next feat is to get around to the O2 at night. I have been putting that off for months and the Dr. isn't happy about this either. I am not sure why (maybe some deep rooted denial on my part).

How long have you been on the Tudorza and Breo?

Take care,
AnnieM

I tried to send you a reply yesterday & my computer seized up.
I have been on Tudorza since June, I find it helps my breathing. I use 1 puff 2 times per day. I get no help from Ventolin so I really needed something to help with bronchodilation.
I also take 1 puff 2 times a day of Advair 250. I was put on the Advair the day my COPD was diagnosed. Prior to Advair I used Flovent for over 20 years, so I have been on steroids for many years.