Spiriva

Generic name: Tiotropium Inhalation
Drug class: Anticholinergic bronchodilators

Usage of Spiriva

Spiriva is a bronchodilator that relaxes muscles in the airways and increases air flow to the lungs.

Spiriva is used to prevent bronchospasm (narrowing of the airways in the lungs) in adults with COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), including bronchitis and emphysema.

Spiriva Respimat is also used to prevent asthma attacks in adults and children who are at least 6 years old.

Spiriva HandiHaler is not for use in children.

Spiriva side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction to Spiriva: hives, itching; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Call your doctor at once if you have:

wheezing, choking, or other breathing problems after using this medicine;

blurred vision, eye pain or redness, seeing halos around lights;

sores or white patches on your mouth, lips, or tongue;

pain or burning when you urinate; or

little or no urinating.

Common Spiriva side effects may include:

dry mouth;

blurred vision;

constipation, painful urination;

upset stomach;

chest pain, fast heart rate; or

cold symptoms such as stuffy or runny nose, sinus pain, sore throat.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Before taking Spiriva

You should not use Spiriva if you are allergic to tiotropium or ipratropium (Atrovent, Combivent, DuoNeb).

To make sure this medicine is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have ever had:

narrow-angle glaucoma;

kidney disease;

a milk allergy; or

an enlarged prostate or urination problems.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant. It is not known whether tiotropium will harm an unborn baby. However, having uncontrolled asthma during pregnancy may cause premature birth, a low birth weight baby, or complications such as eclampsia (dangerously high blood pressure that can lead to medical problems in both mother and baby). The benefit of treating asthma may outweigh any risks to the baby.

It may not be safe to breast-feed while using this medicine. Ask your doctor about any risk.

Spiriva Respimat is not approved for use by anyone younger than 6 years old.

Relate drugs

How to use Spiriva

Usual Adult Dose for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease -- Maintenance:

Tiotropium inhalation powder, hard capsule: -18 mcg (2 inhalations) orally once a day using the HandiHaler device Tiotropium, solution for inhalation: -5 mcg (2 inhalations) orally once a day Uses: Long-term maintenance treatment of bronchospasm associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), including chronic bronchitis and emphysema; to reduce exacerbations in COPD patients

Usual Adult Dose for Asthma -- Maintenance:

-2.5 mcg (2 inhalations of 1.25 mcg) orally once a day Comments: -The maximum benefits in lung function may take up to 4 to 8 weeks of dosing. Use: Long-term maintenance treatment of asthma

Usual Pediatric Dose for Asthma -- Maintenance:

6 years or older: -2.5 mcg (2 inhalations of 1.25 mcg) orally once a day Comments: -The maximum benefits in lung function may take up to 4 to 8 weeks of dosing. Use: Long-term maintenance treatment of asthma

Warnings

A Spiriva capsule is for use only in the HandiHaler device. Do not take the capsule by mouth. Use only one capsule at a time.

Spiriva Respimat Inhalation Spray is supplied in a carton containing one aluminum cartridge and one Respimat inhaler device. The Spiriva Respimat cartridge is only intended for use with the Respimat inhaler device and should not be interchanged with any other Respimat device delivered product. The Respimat inhaler device is a cylindrical shaped plastic inhalation device with a gray colored body and a clear base. The clear base is removed to insert the cartridge. The inhaler contains a dose indicator.

Before using this medicine, tell your doctor if you have narrow-angle glaucoma, or an enlarged prostate or bladder obstruction.

Spiriva is used to prevent bronchospasm attacks. Do not use this medication to treat a bronchospasm attack that has already begun. It will not work fast enough to reverse your symptoms. Use only a fast-acting inhalation medication to treat an attack.

What other drugs will affect Spiriva

Tell your doctor about all your other medicines, especially:

medicine to treat depression, anxiety, mood disorders, or mental illness;

cold or allergy medicine (Benadryl and others);

medicine to treat Parkinson's disease;

medicine to treat stomach problems, motion sickness, or irritable bowel syndrome;

medicine to treat overactive bladder; or

bronchodilator asthma medication.

This list is not complete. Other drugs may interact with tiotropium, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible drug interactions are listed here.

Disclaimer

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