Spiriva Respimat Inhaler

Uses of Spiriva Respimat Inhaler

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.

Precautions and 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.

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.

Dosage

Inhale this medication by mouth as directed by your doctor, usually 2 sprays once daily. Do not inhale more than 2 sprays in 24 hours.

If you are using other inhalers at the same time, wait at least 1 minute between the use of each medication.

Use this medication regularly to get the most benefit from it. To help you remember, use it at the same time each day.

Do not increase your dose or use this drug more often or for longer than prescribed. Your condition will not improve any faster, and your risk of side effects will increase.

When this medication is used to treat asthma, it may take 4 to 8 weeks before you get the full benefit of this drug.

Side Effects

Common side effects:

• 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.