tiotropium

Generic Name: tiotropium
Other Brand Names: Spiriva

What is tiotropium inhalation?

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

Tiotropium inhalation may also be used for purposes other than those listed here.

Uses Side Effects Precautions Interactions Overdose
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking tiotropium inhalation?

Do not use this medication if you are allergic to tiotropium, ipratropium (Atrovent) or atropine (Atreza, Sal-Tropine).

Tiotropium inhalation 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. Talk with your doctor if any of your medications do not seem to work as well in treating or preventing bronchospasm attacks.

Before using tiotropium inhalation, 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 not be able to use tiotropium inhalation or you may need a dosage adjustment or special tests during treatment.

FDA pregnancy category C. This medication 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 tiotropium inhalation without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

How should I take tiotropium inhalation?

Use this medication 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.

Tiotropium inhalation 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. Talk with your doctor if any of your medications do not seem to work as well in treating or preventing bronchospasm attacks.

Tiotropium inhalation 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.

Tiotropium 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 tiotropium inhalation regularly to get the most benefit. Get your prescription refilled before you run out of medicine completely.

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.

To be sure this medication is helping your condition, your lung function will need to be tested on a regular basis. It is important that you not miss any scheduled visits to your doctor.

Keep each tiotropium capsule in its blister pack until you are ready to place the capsule into the HandiHaler and use the device for your dose.

Store tiotropium inhalation at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

What happens if I miss a dose of tiotropium inhalation?

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.

Where can I get more information about tiotropium inhalation?
Your pharmacist has information about tiotropium inhalation written for health professionals that you may read.
What are the possible side effects of tiotropium inhalation?

Stop using tiotropium inhalation 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 are more likely to occur, such as:

  • 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.

Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

What is the most important information I should know about tiotropium inhalation?

Before using this medication, 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 tiotropium inhalation or you may need a dosage adjustment or special tests during treatment.

Tiotropium inhalation 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. Talk with your doctor if any of your medications do not seem to work as well in treating or preventing bronchospasm attacks.

Use this medication 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.

What should I avoid while taking tiotropium inhalation?

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

What other drugs will affect tiotropium inhalation?

Before using tiotropium inhalation, 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).

If you are using any of these drugs, you may not be able to use tiotropium inhalation, or you may need dosage adjustments or special tests during treatment.

There may be other drugs not listed that can affect tiotropium inhalation. 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.

What happens if I have an overdose of tiotropium inhalation?

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

Symptoms of a tiotropium inhalation overdose may include dry mouth, eye redness, constipation, stomach pain, and confusion or drowsiness.

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication 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.
Content provided by Multum - Last Updated 2/11/2008