Spiriva

Generic Name: tiotropium inhalation (tye oh TROE pee um)
Brand Names: Spiriva HandiHaler

What is Spiriva?

Feedback for Spiriva

User Reviews	Avg User Rating
4 Comments		9.7	Rate it!

Spiriva is an anticholinergic agent. It works by enlarging the airways to allow easier breathing. It comes as a capsule containing dry powder, which is inhaled through the mouth using the HandiHaler device.

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

Spiriva may also be used for other purposes not listed here.

Important information about Spiriva

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

Before using Spiriva, tell your doctor if you have narrow-angle glaucoma, or an enlarged prostate or bladder obstruction. If you have any of these conditions, you may not be able to use Spiriva or you may need a dosage adjustment or special tests during treatment.

Spiriva is used to prevent bronchospasm attacks. Do not use Spiriva 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. Talk with your doctor if any of your medications do not seem to work as well in treating or preventing bronchospasm attacks.

Use Spiriva exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not use it in larger doses or for longer than recommended by your doctor.

Call your doctor right away if you feel that this medicine is not working as well as usual, or if it makes your condition worse. If it seems like you need to use more of any of your medications in a 24-hour period, talk with your doctor.

Before using Spiriva

Do not use Spiriva if you are allergic to tiotropium, ipratropium (Atrovent) or atropine (Atreza, Sal-Tropine). Spiriva is used to prevent bronchospasm attacks. Do not use Spiriva 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. Talk with your doctor if any of your medications do not seem to work as well in treating or preventing bronchospasm attacks.

Before using Spiriva, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have:

narrow-angle glaucoma; or
an enlarged prostate or a bladder obstruction.

If you have any of these conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely use Spiriva.

FDA pregnancy category C. Spiriva may be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment. It is not known if tiotropium passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not use Spiriva without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

How should I use Spiriva?

Use Spiriva exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not use it in larger doses or for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label.

Spiriva and its inhaler device come with patient instructions for safe and effective use. Follow these directions carefully. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions.

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

It is important to use Spiriva regularly to get the most benefit. Get your prescription refilled before you run out of medicine completely.

To be sure Spiriva is helping your condition, your lung function will need to be tested on a regular basis. Do not miss any scheduled appointments.

Keep each Spiriva capsule in its blister pack until you are ready to place the capsule into the HandiHaler and use the device for your dose. Store Spiriva at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Use the medication as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and wait until your next regularly scheduled dose. Do not use extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine.

Overdose symptoms may include dry mouth, eye redness, constipation, stomach pain, and confusion or drowsiness.

What should I avoid while using Spiriva?

Avoid getting Spiriva in your eyes. If this happens, rinse with water.

Spiriva side effects

Stop using Spiriva and get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Call your doctor at once if you urinate less than usual or not at all.

Less serious side effects may include:

dry mouth, cough, hoarseness;
blurred vision;
trouble swallowing;
nausea, constipation, upset stomach;
stuffy nose, nosebleed;
fast heart rate;
drowsiness; or
white patches in your mouth or throat.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect.

What other drugs will affect Spiriva?

Before using Spiriva, tell your doctor if you are using any of the following medicines:

atropine (Donnatal, and others);
belladonna;
cimetidine (Tagamet);
clidinium (Quarzan);
dicyclomine (Bentyl);
glycopyrrolate (Robinul);
hyoscyamine (Anaspaz, Cystospaz, Levsin, and others);
mepenzolate (Cantil);
methantheline (Provocholine);
methscopolamine (Pamine);
propantheline (Pro-Banthine); or
scopolamine (Transderm-Scop).

This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with Spiriva. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.

Where can I get more information?

Your pharmacist can provide more information about Spiriva.

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use Spiriva only for the indication prescribed.
Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.