PharmaceuticalBeta-2 agonistBronchodilatorUltra-LABA

Vilanterol

Also known as Component of Breo/Relvar Ellipta · Component of Anoro Ellipta

Written by enwyReviewed 15 Jul 20261 sources0 comments

Vilanterol is a once-daily ultra-long-acting beta-2 agonist used only in fixed-combination inhalers — with the corticosteroid fluticasone furoate (Breo/Relvar) for asthma and COPD, and with the muscarinic antagonist umeclidinium for COPD. It is not sold as a standalone product and has no physique or fat-loss use.

01 Overview

Vilanterol is a selective beta-2 agonist with 24-hour duration, developed exclusively as a component of once-daily combination inhalers. Paired with fluticasone furoate it treats asthma and COPD; paired with umeclidinium (and optionally fluticasone furoate as a triple therapy) it treats COPD. It is never marketed alone, which sidesteps the LABA-monotherapy asthma safety concern by design.

Its pharmacology and side-effect profile are those of the ultra-LABA class: durable bronchodilation with systemic beta-2 effects (tremor, palpitations, hypokalaemia) at the margins. It has no role as a cutting or thermogenic drug; systemic exposure from inhaled combination products is low.

02 Mechanism

Ultra-long-acting selective beta-2 agonist. Sustained beta-2 receptor activation raises cyclic AMP and relaxes airway smooth muscle for ~24 hours, always delivered alongside a corticosteroid and/or muscarinic antagonist.

03 Dosing

Tier	Dose	Route	Notes
Combination maintenance	22–25 mcg/day	Inhaled	~22-25 mcg once daily as part of a fixed-combination Ellipta inhaler; never used alone.

04 Effects

Effect	Magnitude	Evidence
24-hour bronchodilationDurable bronchodilation supporting once-daily combination therapy.	once-daily dosing	Clinical
Improved control (with steroid/LAMA)In combination inhalers, improves lung function and reduces exacerbations in asthma and COPD.	fewer exacerbations	Clinical

05 Side effects

Effect	Severity	Frequency	Evidence
Tremor and palpitationsFine tremor, palpitations and headache from systemic beta-2 stimulation.	Mild	Common	Clinical
HypokalaemiaBeta-2-mediated intracellular potassium shift at high or combined dosing.	Moderate	With high doses	Clinical
Pneumonia (in COPD combinations)Fluticasone-containing combinations carry a modest increased pneumonia risk in COPD, attributable to the corticosteroid component.	Moderate	With inhaled steroid combination	Clinical

06 Legal status

United States

Prescription drug

FDA-approved only within fixed-combination inhalers (Breo Ellipta, Anoro Ellipta, Trelegy Ellipta). · as of Jan 2026

07 References

Vilanterol/fluticasone furoate — clinical pharmacologyClinical review / prescribing information

08 Discussion0 comments

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This page is reference information, not medical advice. Doses and protocols are documented as they appear in the clinical literature and in practice — describing them is not a recommendation to use them. Countermeasures listed here are not a substitute for a physician. Legal status varies by jurisdiction and changes.