I assume Peter's right and the Ultrabro is a combination LAMA/LABA, so the addition of a corticosteroid means hat with two medications, you're getting the standard trifecta of meds for COPD. If it seems to be working, don't change a thing!

Off the top of my head, it looks as though your doc switched the seretide to the ultibro, which is basically a straight exchange: one bronchodilator (Long Acting Beta Agonist or LABA) for another in the same class. However, the switch from Spiriva to the clenil is switching from a Long Acting Muscarinic Agent (LAMA) to a corticosteroid. These are two very different meds and designed to do very different things. If you hadn't complained that you felt the Spiriva wasn't doing anything for you, I would ask why he made this exchange.

Just FYI, it's very common for people with COPD to take a LABA and a steroid (the clenil and the ultibro), often in combination with each other (Advair is a good example) and a LAMA, such as spirival, dulera or tudorza.

I agree!

I was reading about they were trialing the combined use of a LAMA/LABA with an ICS, ...My Pulmo already has me doing that with the Ultibro (LAMA/LABA) plus Pulmicort...a Corticosteroid.

QUOTE ''Following talks with the FDA, Glaxo in June said it was planning to submit the combination of a LAMA, a LABA and an inhaled corticosteroid by the end of 2016 on the strength of data already then in hand.

That announcement was followed shortly by readout of the Fulfil Phase III trial, an 1,800-patient test in which Glaxo's combo showed superiority over the LABA/steroid combination Symbicort in lung function and health-related quality of life measures. Full data were disclosed at the European Respiratory Society (ERS) meeting in September.

A second, larger Phase III trial called Impact asks whether treatment with FF/UMEC/VI is better at preventing exacerbations of COPD than Breo or Anoro Ellipta, a LABA/steroid and LABA/LAMA respectively, both novel entries in their categories. This trial will not read out until sometime next year, but the FDA apparently has seen enough at least to entertain a regulatory decision.''

@A MyCOPDTeam Member.........I have been on Ultibro Breezhaler since 2014......It is basically a LAMA/LABA combined inhaler used once daily......I like it and has a great delivery system.....Prior to that I was on their previous one called Onbrez but quickly switched over when Ultibro was approved.....I think Ultibro might have just recently been approved by the FDA in the US and might be called Ultibron or something like that.....No need for Spiriva, which was the original combo with the old time Corticosteroids.

Anoro Ellipta, Brimca Genuair, Spiolto Respimat are also LAMA/LABA combinations.........Because I need more steroid in my medication, i was given the option to include either Onbrez or Pulmicort once daily.

I am now considering going back to my original Seretide 500 and Seebri.....I am not a real fan of Spiriva.....It all comes down to what works for you and the progression of your disease needs.......so always check with your pulmonary doctor first but there is no harm in experimenting....

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