Loading...You may have seen commercials of a person with an elephant sitting on her chest. Here’s a link in case you may have missed them. It’s a clever marketing strategy to reinforce the idea that a serious breathing problem like chronic bronchitis, COPD or emphysema can feel like an elephant weighing you down. But that image of the elephant might distract you from the voice-over announcer’s long list of side effects.
Here is a Spiriva question from Mimi, a visitor to our website:
Q. My elderly mother was prescribed a number of medications to treat her COPD [chronic obstructive pulmonary disease]. She developed many symptoms though a couple were attributed to other causes… the red/blue hot leg being one, memory problems, terrible weakness and edema. She had been alert, active and mentally bright up until she started taking Spiriva, prednisone and other inhaled meds.
She kept having episodes that looked like heart attacks, yet weren’t. She kept being taken to the hospital for treatment. It was a terrible way for her to end her life in her 93rd year. She’d been so healthy until she started taking those meds. We were told there were no other treatments.
I honestly think that when she died suddenly one night it was because of a pulmonary embolism. Her primary care doctor thinks so too. Now I read that that can be caused by corticosteroids. Her mother and her aunt all lived to a ripe old ages [98, 102] almost disease free until the end. I think Mom might have lived longer and healthier without all the treatments.
A. Tiotropium, the active ingredient in Spiriva, is considered a strong anticholinergic medication. That means it affects the activity of the neurochemical acetylcholine. Although there is no mention in the official Spiriva prescribing information about cognitive dysfunction, drugs that have anticholinergic activity can cause confusion, mental fogginess or even memory problems. Another classic complication is constipation.
The commercials on television do not mention anything about mental fogginess. They do say the following, though:
“Tell your doctor if you have kidney problems, glaucoma, trouble urinating or an enlarged prostate. These may worsen with Spiriva…Stop taking Spiriva and seek immediate medical help if your breathing suddenly worsens, your throat or tongue swells, you get hives, vision changes or eye pain, or problems passing urine. Other side effects include dry mouth and constipation.”
Other side effects of Spiriva include:
SPIRIVA (TIOTROPIUM) SIDE EFFECTS:
- Dry Mouth
- Severe constipation
- Upper respiratory tract infection, sore throat, cold symptoms, sinus infection
- Worsened breathing problems, bronchospasm
- Chest pain, irregular heart rhythms, palpitations
- Digestive tract distress, heartburn, stomach pain, reflux
- Headache
- Depression, difficulty sleeping
- Fluid retention
- Arthritis or joint pain, muscle pain (myalgia)
- Nose bleeds, runny nose
- Dehydration, dry skin
- Difficulty urinating, urinary retention
- Severe allergic reaction, hives, itching, rash, swelling of tongue, throat or lips
- Visual problems, glaucoma, cataracts
- Yeast infections in mouth and throat, mouth ulcers, hoarseness
- Voice changes
- Cholesterol elevation
Tiotropium is an Anticholinergic Drug:
Okay, so what does it mean when a medication has strong anticholinergic activity? Acetylcholine is a critical neurochemical that affects your entire body. Without this chemical you could not lift a pencil, blink or think. It is crucial inside the brain as well as outside the brain. When drugs interfere with the normal activity of acetylcholine, we call them anticholinergic. You can learn more about this critical process and other anticholinergic drugs at this link:
Where Can I Find A List of Anticholinergic Drugs?
What are common symptoms of anticholinergic activity? Dry mouth is a classic tip off. Acetylcholine is essential to keep mucus membranes functioning normally. When the effects of acetylcholine are blocked, secretions are reduced and body parts get dry. That’s why people complain of dry skin, dry mouth, dry eyes, blurred vision, dehydration, constipation and urinary retention. That last one means that people may have trouble urinating or emptying their bladder completely.
Go back and read the symptoms listed for Spiriva during the video advertisement. To make it easy here are a couple of key ones: “problems passing urine,” “dry mouth,” and “constipation.” By the way, anticholinergic drugs can make glaucoma worse, hence the warning:
“Tell your doctor if you have kidney problems, glaucoma, trouble urinating or an enlarged prostate. These may worsen with Spiriva…”
Who Cares?
Why should anyone care if a medicine is considered anticholinergic? Besides the side effects mentioned above, there are concerns that anticholinergic drugs may impact cognitive function. An article in Geriatrics & Gerontology International (April, 2017) described it this way:
“The use of anticholinergic drugs had been strongly linked to adverse health outcomes among older adults, especially in cognitive impairment or dementia. The present study aimed to evaluate the cognitive decline related to the use of anticholinergicdrugs among older men living in the veterans’ homes in Taiwan.”
The authors concluded:
“Exposure to anticholinergic drugs significantly increased the risk for short-term cognitive decline among older men, and the adverse effects remained similar when antipsychotics were excluded for analysis. A further intervention study is required to evaluate whether reducing anticholinergic burden might improve cognitive function among older adults.”
Another article in the journal Aging Clinical and Experimental Research (Feb. 2016) summarizes the situation this way:
“The use of medication with anticholinergic properties is widespread among older subjects. Many drugs of common use such as antispasmodics, bronchodilators, antiarrhythmics, antihistamines, anti-hypertensive drugs, antiparkinson agents, skeletal muscle relaxants, and psychotropic drugs have been demonstrated to have an anticholinergic activity. The most frequent adverse effects are dry mouth, nausea, vomiting, constipation, abdominal pain, urinary retention, blurred vision, tachycardia and neurologic impairment such as confusion, agitation and coma.”
The authors conclude conclude:
“Overall, minimizing anticholinergic burden should always be encouraged in clinical practice to improve short-term memory, confusion and delirium, quality of life and daily functioning.”
No one should ever stop any medication with careful consultation with the prescribing physician. That includes Spiriva!
Stories from Visitors:
Other visitors to our website have shared the following concerns:
A self-described “Old Fart in Florida” asks:
“Anyone have any of the dry mouth, dry lips, sore tongue problems using a Spiriva inhaler?”
Anonymous notes:
“I also have a problem with urine retention, and when this happens I reduce Spiriva to every other day and it seems to clear up. I take Symbicort – 1 puff 2 x a day (child’s dose) which has worked very well for me.”
M.F.C. also wonders about urinary retention:
“I have been diagnosed with COPD. I was using Spiriva for about 6-8 weeks when I developed a urine retention problem.The Spiriva did help the breathing problem but the side effects were more than I could tolerate. I am now on Advair 100/50 and I truly believe that is also causing side effects that are troublesome. I am waiting to see a pulmonologist but can’t get an appt. till Dec. The Advair does help the breathing but the side effects concern me.”
Spiriva and Cardiovascular Complications:
One of the most controversial issues around Spiriva (tiotropium) (and other long-acting bronchodilators) has to do with cardiovascular risks. An epidemiological study from Canada suggested that when older patients start taking such medications, they increased their risk of trips to an emergency department or hospitalization due to cardiovascular causes. This study reignites a controversy about the cardiovascular safety of these drugs for COPD patients. Here is a commentary that puts this whole issue into perspective.
An article in the International Journal of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (Nov. 25, 2016) discusses LAMAs and LABAs. A LAMA is a long-acting muscarinic antagonist. That’s doctorspeak for an anticholineric drug like tiotropium. A LABA is a long-acting beta agonist. That means it is a bronchodilator like salmeterol or formoterol. Here is what the authors say about cardiovascular complications:
“Due to their mechanisms of action, both LAMAs and LABAs have the potential to cause cardiac-related adverse events (AEs). LAMAs suppress parasympathetic control of heart rate (HR) and LABAs stimulate sympathetic control of HR. These effects serve to raise HR with the potential to cause cardiac arrhythmias, myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, and sudden death in susceptible patients.”
The authors strongly argue for additional studies to determine the cardiovascular safety of LAMAs and LABAs. In fact they are undertaking just such a study, but results won’t be known for some time.
In the Meantime:
Until this confusion is resolved, physicians and patients will need to be vigilant for any symptoms that might suggest heart or other vascular complications.
Should you wish to learn more about a different approach to COPD and asthma, you may find the book by David Hahn, MD, MPH, of interest. It is titled: “A Cure for Asthma: What Your Doctor Isn’t Telling You–And Why.” What is fascinating about Dr. Hahn’s book is that it discusses in detail the use of antibiotics for helping overcome asthma symtpoms. The same antibiotic he reviews, azithromycin, has been tested in the treatment of COPD. An article in the New England Journal of Medicine (Aug. 25, 2011) concluded:
“Among selected subjects with COPD, azithromycin taken daily for 1 year, when added to usual treatment, decreased the frequency of exacerbations and improved quality of life but caused hearing decrements in a small percentage of subjects.”
Should you be interested in more information about the use of antibiotics in the treatment of asthma, we think Dr. Hahn’s book is valuable. We are proud to be publishing this ground-breaking book. If you know someone with asthma, please let him or her know about this important information. Here is a link to more information about Dr. Hahn’s provocative book. If you want to go straight to the shopping cart, here is the link.
Remember, no one should ever stop any medication without careful communication with the prescribing physician. That is especially true for life-threatening conditions like asthma or COPD.
To learn more about anticholinergic drugs, here is a link:
Where Can I Find a List of Anticholinergic Drugs?
Share your own experiences with Spiriva below. Has it worked well for your COPD symptoms? Have you had to contend with side effects? Let us and other visitors to this website know how you have made out with this medication.
Revised: 9-21-17
D
I was a previous smoker for 20+ years and had quit for 6-7 years and was doing ok till I got covid (about a month before the vaccines became available to the general public), and that seemed to nudge me over the precipice. I acquired a chronic cough and shortness of breath with little exertion.
Went to my doc and got tested, and I have COPD as well as pulmonary hypertension. Not good. I started on an inhaled steroid/beta agonist and got a referral to a pulmonologist, who added tiotropium (Spiriva) as well. That finally got me to breathing reasonably, but after a few months, my memory got worse. Then I started substituting wrong words. Dementia patients do that, but i’m still just 50-odd. I stopped the Spiriva for a week, and my breathing/coughing got worse, so I resumed it at half the original dose, and I’ll skip a day now and then if I know I’m not doing much. Seems to be ok for my mental state, but I’m still just buying time. This always ends the same way. I’ll eventually get more meds to put it off, and I can only hope they aren’t worse than doing nothing at all.
Cindy
FL
I had been using Spiriva for about 5 years when realized my insomnia was getting worse. Would go to sleep fine, but woke many times and quite often was up 2-3 hours in the middle of the night. Saw that something about Spiriva might be a problem so stopped it. Started sleeping like a baby. For about 4 months have used it only once every 5-6 days and have realized something else: I no longer have any GERD problems OR chest pains (Costochondritis). When I do use it, the 2nd or 3rd night afterward I plan on not sleeping well. My TMJ issues have calmed down also.
Linda
Beverly, MA
I was prescribed Spirit by my allergist to replace Advair for my allergent asthma in August of 2017. Nearly immediately, I began having sinus problems, INCREASED difficulty breathing, a cough, and my voice became very hoarse. Initially, I thought it was my fall (seasonal) allergies but when it continued, I thought it was just a very, very bad viral cold. Why I let it go one for 6 months is anyone’s guess, but I did and went to my PCP who told me to stop using it immediately. He was particularly concerned with my severely hoarse throat (probably because he could definitely hear that) and sent me to a Ear/Nose/Throat specialist to make sure no permanent damage had been done.
I was never told by my allergist that I should thoroughly rinse my mouth immediately after using although she had emphasized I do that when I was on Advair. Should I have read the small print insert? Yes, but I didn’t and wow, did I suffer. Thankfully, no permanent damage, but be careful with this drug.
Deanna
Colorado
My problems with Spiriva after 1 year: Immense weight gain, left side pain below ribs in my back, memory problems, my arthritis aches more, dry mouth (teeth are loosening up), terribly dry skin even though I drink 4 – 16 oz glasses of water daily. Now I have started with pain in my heart area off and on, and now I know why (reading this column). But will still have it checked out. Once I stopped Spiriva Handihaler I’ve been dropping weight steadily, no pain, no dry mouth, and memory sharpness is returning. I am on oxygen and a CPAP whenever I lie down, and my readings have not been any different since stopping Spiriva. I have been on ProAir for 10 years with no problems. Can’t take Advair as I have an allergic reaction to it. Have you ever noticed 2 -3 empty capsules in your box? Drove me nuts.
Elizabeth
England
I took Spiriva for less than two months. It helped my breathing, but by week 7 I was overheating at night. This wasn’t a hot flush or night sweat. It was incredibly severe. It also caused frequent urination and sleeplessness, aside from the dry mouth etc.. I had to stop.
Linda
Montana
It was great for the first week. Then the fast heart beat started and my fog and joint pain worsened. I started having vivid night mares on top of it. It seems to have magnified my list of problems. Now, I only use it when its absolutely necessary and only 3 days at a time.
Joanne
I have asthma, was prescribed Spiriva. I was hospitalized with cardiac arrythmia. My allergist attributed this to Spiriva and reduced the frequency to 3 times a week which prevented recurrence of arrhythmia. I continue to have a dry mouth and dry eyes requiring prescription eye drops. Your column suggests less Spiriva may be warranted.
Anne
Wisconsin
It truly amazes me that the FDA approves these drugs, and then doctors prescribe them. Also, I hate all the ads for drugs. Yes, they do give a list of possible side effects that are spoken so quickly and softly it’s difficult for someone with good hearing to pick everything up.
I briefly tried taking a generic antidepressant, and the side effects were pretty intense. My doctor kept saying they’d most likely go away in a week or two. Are you kidding me?!
There’s something awfully irresponsible in the way people are medicated. I understand that there are conditions that allow no choice, but most of the time, I think there are alternatives or maybe we just have to accept the fact that not everything is “curable” with the drugs we currently have.
Meanwhile, the price of drugs keeps rising while companies put out garbage.
Kerry
australia
i have copd from welding and smoking,i was ok till i took spiriva powder for 12 months,gave it up for 5 months then had lung infection and antibiotics and spiriva again,then all of a sudden spirive took my breath away,tried spiriva respimat twice,ended in emergency on morphine for pain twice,used atrovent and flutiform effectively ,virtually living on augmentum 1000mg,doxycyllin 100 mg daily,ended up hospital with pneumonia for 8 days ,iv anti biotics ,came out really good for 2 weeks then lost my breath again for last month and cant work it out.
Leah N.
Acton, Ma.01720
Leah N. I have been on Spiriva for about 12 yrs.I have mild bronchitis.For the past couple months i have noticed after taking spiriva i have an ache in my throat & short of breath.Recently i had heart flutter which lasted for 20 min.Never happen to me before.I want to stop the spiriva & wondering if it is safe to do so.As i mentioned i only have mild bronchitis.
John
Spokane
I was given a spiriva prescription today and just inhaled my first dose. I feel some clearing in lungs but some blurred vision and shakiness in my legs which prompted me to find this page. After reading it I am very tempted to stop after one dose. My doc says I y have a small symptom of emphazima. I wonder what percentage of users get bad side effects?
Julane
Portland, OR
I was a smoker for 50 years and was diagnosed with COPD nearly 30 years ago. Didn’t take that serious and continued smoked up until 10 years ago. However I took no medications for it until I ended up in the hospital with pneumonia 6 years ago. The problem with COPD is that doctors treat it like asthma and give you albuterol when you are having breathing problems (with a cold or flu) this CAUSES your heart to race and then they get all into giving you heart medicine when all you need is the comfort of oxygen.
I now have it in my medical records that I do not want albuterol. The doctors at the hospital nearly killed me with all of their heart drugs and the albuterol. Now I have oxygen at home and will probably never need to go to the hospital again when I feel I can’t breathe. I now take Spiriva but after reading all of this I am going to discuss it with my Dr. I am so sick of having dry skin (yuck) but didn’t know what was causing it.
I guess what I am saying here is that from my point of view you don’t need medication for every diagnoses of COPD. Wait until you can’t walk a block without stopping and have oxygen available when you need it. Everyone should have an oximeter with them at all times. Talk with your doctor about this.
Jonathan
Georgia
I have been taking Spiriva (dry powder inhaler) for asthma for about 6 months. I have tried every class of maintenance drug for my asthma, including leukotriene inhibitors, long acting beta 2 agonists, and steroid inhalers, and Spiriva is the only medicine that seems to help. If I take it in the evening, I wake up with a dry, sore throat and have to drink a lot of water before going back to bed. This doesn’t seem to happen if I take the daily dose in the morning, however. The most disconcerting symptom I have experienced is what feels like increased intra-ocular pressure.
I don’t recall having any memory problems from the Spiriva, or at least I don’t remember having any :)
Raymond
North Yorkshire
I have in the last three weeks started to use Spiriva Respimat as prescribed by my respiratory nurse. For ten years I have been using the ‘Egg’ system. I hadn’t noticed any major side effects with the old way but maybe I have got used to the minor problems. Wanting to urinate often,dry mouth etc,
The ‘New Respimat vapour inhaler,well that’s another beast. Whether its because i’m getting the dose right into my lungs and better than the capsule method,I really don’t know. To be cautious,I started with one puff in a morning instead of two.I seemed pretty much ok on this so i started to take the recommended dose of two puffs in the morning.
Yesterday, my first day on this dosage, my vision was really blurred and the pain in my eyeballs was like someone was squashing them. It was agony. Today I have reverted back to one puff in the morning but the pain in my eyes is still there although not as bad.
I have had to take to 200mg Ibruprofen to ease the pain which in turn makes me breathless. Tomorrow I am coming off of the Respimat and will rely on my Atrovent reliever until I see the Respiratory nurse again.
My choice I know but the side effects are worse than the breathing. Over the years I have begun to feel like a Guinea pig for all the new and not so new inhalers. Enough is enough for me. Thank you.
Di
other/autre
I have been using Spiriva now for about 10 years and to date have not had any of the problems that other people are mentioning. But you are causing me concern from the point of view that I know i will probably have to take something for my COPD for the rest of my life but should it be this?
Diana
188 Ash zst. 2nd for. Lewiston, Maine 04240
I started on spirits with 2 trials for shortness of breath, wheezing an copd.i had labs, x-rays, zan CT scan still asaiting results of CT. I was contacted after x-ray that they sas scars. Which could just be from bronchitis or smokers cough. It also could be so r see, still waiting results of the CT scan. Sense beginning spirits I’m breathing so much better. I love it! Almost like r new! I have had body itching more bit still has been great! No other side effects. I Also use advisor with the pocket chamber, than gargle because it’s a steroid. I hardly use my rescue inhaler anymore, an for sure less no a thT I know ho we very bad they are for you, and can actually make you worse quicker. I love the approval, I can breath normal again. Just need to stop smoking! Please pray for me? May God bless you as well.
Polly
UK and France
I am 79 years old (and a technical analyst/writer) and have been using Spiriva for about 18 months and also was already taking budesonide+formoterol inhalant. I had two hospital urgencies in that time and none in my life before that. Recently, I found myself with the sudden arrival of large mauve skin patches and a very weakened skin fabric, which was reluctant to heal after a minor scuff.
Prior to that event, I had had several weeks of a rash. I did not put the two together for a while. I stopped budesonide/formoterol about a week ago and the skin problem immediately started to recover and the rash [hives maybe] became far less troublesome.
Since I have had breathing and heart problems since about five years old, I am very aware of the delicate relationship between respiration and the cardio-vascular function.
On reading the foregoing — and one of the links, I am now thinking that the real treatment is simply (?!) getting more oxygen into the blood. Oxygen therapy itself is going to be a good start, surely? But making a very gradual increase in daily excercise (the kind that causes something like an uncomfortable need to breathe fast — maybe just climbing the stairs) seems also to have the possibility of re-balancing the heart-lung operation.
I’m about to try this and maybe I will stop the Spiriva as well.
Meanwhile I have discussed this briefly with a very excellent and kindly endocrine specialist.
Anyway, I hope that my thoughts might help someone else
Allen
10 days on Spiriva. I have developed the worst bronchitis I have ever had. Feels like my bronchial tubes are raw. I’m coughing severely and horse. Using my emergency inhaler. I am calling my md. this am. I am experiencing worse symptoms by far than I had before starting.
Denise
I am to take this med. because it is to make me breath better, but if it causes severe chest congestion how does that make me breath better, I also have osteirporosis and predisone is one of the causes, I have refused to take fosomax due to all side effects. Should I refuse this med, as well? Sure wish I knew what to do as well as what drug to take…
Carol
U.K.
I have an awful itching and prickling and awful pain in my left leg. I was given spiriva for chronic brittle asthma 4wks ago so I’ve decided I’m not using it anymore.
lcj
texas
In four days of use for mild COPD, I experienced significant memory loss, day two I developed spots about two inches in diameter across my abdomen. Day three the spots felt like wood splinters and terribly painful. I took Spiriva day four and called my Pulmonologist. He told me to stop taking it. I read the side effects, and discovered another side effect. High Blood Pressure and heart palpations, which was the reason my cardiologist sent me to the Pulmonologist along with pulmonary leak and swollen heart (left side). No one seems to be able to get my problem under control. I’m afraid of stroke or heart attack. I also have cysts in my lungs.
Robert
This is a very valuable commentary section…thank you so much for presenting this….! I came across this by chance in looking for adverse effects of Spiriva…It has been prescribed for me by my Oncologist…but I don’t think I’ll try it (if at all), until I consult with my regular Doctor…
Mary
32907
My dad was prescribed Spiriva last February, he was 81.
He had severe stomach aches ever since starting with Spiriva.
Before taking it for chronic bronchitis he was active and full of life.
He was diagnosed in July of last year with pancreatic cancer.
He never smoked or drank or had any other disease. No family history of cancer.
Could Spiriva have caused this?
Peggy
treasure coast, Florida
I hope I get the side effect that slows down the need to urinate,that would be a blessing!
tony
london
Since using Spiriva my mental health has been troubling. I sieze up have difficulty breathing, an overwhelming desire to urinate, which has happened, and I have wet myself. I cannot move and am rooted to the spot. I know this sounds crazy, but it is happening and is incredibly frightening. I think I am going mad and explaining this to anyone sounds nuts. Surely I can’t be the only one this has happened to. I have never panicked like this before, and desperately need help.
Robert
Riverside, CA
To Tony in London:
I read your commentary today (5-15-16)…I do hope your terrible difficulties have been resolved…your desperation is terrible…
Robert in Riverside, CA
Jeri
Oklahoma
I have moderate copd and have been using Spiriva for about 8 months. Works ok until the pollen count goes up then I need to use rescue inhaler and Claritan daily. Dry nasal passages and edema are the side effects I’ve experienced.
Carole Forhan
Alberta, Canada
ive taken Spiriva for years for asthma symptoms. My side effects include constant muscle spasms, day and night, memory loss (to the point of thinking I might be getting dementia), visits to the hospital with what felt like heart attacks, but weren’t, and severe GERD, for which I am now on medication.
I returned from a three week holiday and forget to pack my Spiriva. During my holiday, I remembered not suffering cramps in bed, or any other time, I don’t remember having any GERD attacks, still had memory problems however, no miracle there.
Now I’ve been home for three days and back on my Spiriva, I’m suddenly getting those symptoms back again. GERD pain that simulates a heart attack and muscle cramps on and off all night long. I lay there wondering what was the difference in what I was doing since returning from my holiday, and it suddenly dawned on me. I hadn’t taken Siriva for three weeks. I looked up the side effects on line and was appalled at what I read. I’m not going to take it any more, at least until I sit down with my doc.
françoise
Montreal
I also had severe spasms in my right leg to the point of crying. I never had cramps or muscle soasms until i started Spiriva and that was one month ago. It happened at night and also today as I was shopping and trying on clothing. It was awful. It also left me with a with a muscle pain as I am walking. I may have to stop the Spiriva it’s not Worth the pain.
lcj
texas
I also had the memory loss and became very jumpy. I couldn’t stop the rapid speed at work and palpitation’s became stronger, but I couldn’t slow down. Took my blood pressure after the palpitation’s subsided and was at risk. Glad to be off Spiriva. It was a tough four days. My memory problem isn’t back to where it was but it is better. Didn’t have Gird but the muscle spasms in my legs and feet was severe. Couldn’t get enough sleep. My next test is Sleep Study in August.
June
Canada
Has anyone contracted Severe Hives since taking Spiriva? My husband has not had a full night sleep in three years since taking Spiriva. He’s been to an allergist and dermatologist for the hives and is now taking Allegra 24 for the hives which is still not helping. We’ve recently discovered that Severe Hives is one of the side effects from taking Spiriva.
lcj
texas
I did and they appeared day two and day three they became extremely painful
Bill Cullifer
As an fyi, I’ve met and have interviewed Dr. Hahn. Despite objections from my pulmonologist I tried the antibiotics for 15 weeks as Dr. Hahn suggested. Sadly no change in mind condition. It’s important to know that taking antibiotics has shared risk on their own. Please consider the pros and cons of any medication. Oh. By the way, I have Asthma and COPD.
Sandra S
I have been using Spiriva for 2 weeks. For the last 4 days I have had hoarseness and can hardly speak.
It feels like I’m about to lose my voice. I have stopped it until I see someone tomorrow. A nurse
at the surgery never a doctor.
So many side affects with this. I didn’t know
I had COPD until a few weeks ago. I have no trouble
Breathing, walking or anything. I did have bad
chest infections. Why am I told to use Spiriva?
They say it will help not to get chest infection. Open the airways etc. I’m new to all this and confused as what to do about Sipriva. I have stopped smoking 12 days ago.
Jerry
california
Did you get your voice back?
Robert G.
I have cystic fibrosis. I take a steroid inhalation every 12 hours. I have severe eye damage due to uveitis in both eyes. I have cataracts in both eyes. I have had pylo-nephritis badly in the past. I posturally drain 200-400ml from my lungs per 24hrs. Would SPIRIVA be of any benefit to me?
Ada L.
This is the problem with most of those drugs advertised on TV. It’s horrifying if you listen to all of the risks and side effects. I’ve become very distrustful of the entire pharmaceutical industry. I research every med my doctor suggests and query her heavily about why she feels I need to take it.
JL
I was prescribed Spiriva daily for asthma. After taking this for several years I was hospitalized overnight with cardiac arrythmia. My allergist attributed this to Spiriva. I decreased use to twice a week and have had no further side effects.
Donnie
I have allergies, and mild asthma. I take Mullein capsules when I have asthma flare-ups. They work well for me. And I avoid allergens and asthma triggers as much as possible. Especially sulfites, perfumes, products with fragrance, other chemicals, and allergens.
Greg
Does Dr. Hahn’s treatment provide any benefit to those with COPD?
People’s Pharmacy response: It is specifically designed to help people with asthma, but he does discuss how COPD and asthma are similar and how they are different. a very similar treatment regimen in COPD was shown to control exacerbations:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21864166
Dallee
Worthwhile cautions about Spiriva — but I think you are underestimating the impact of steroids, which the comments submitted indicate were also being taken.
And the classic “puffers” can cause heart racing and, I have heard, can become almost addictive to certain users. Some of the “puffers” also have some racial differences in relation to negative reactions.
My experience with Spiriva? I could not take any of the steroid based treatments because of drastic raises in my blood glucose readings. Spiriva has been great for me and I have noticed none of the side effects. It has returned me to normal activity, despite COPD.