Asthma Medicines

Spiriva (tiotropium) is a medicine used to treat persons suffering from COPD that is Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease means constant lung disease with features of airway contraction.

It encompasses two types of disease processes that are emphysema and chronic bronchitis. COPD is mainly caused by smoking. Its symptoms are: -

1. Cough
2. Feeling of breathlessness
3. Sputum production.

Spiriva treats both these conditions by opening narrowed airways. Unlike other COPD medicines, Spiriva (tiotropium) functions for a full 24 hours. The safety profile of this medicine has been recognized in huge clinical studies and with millions of people taking it worldwide. But due its side effect of dry mouth patients are not taking this medicine.

Side effects of Spiriva are: -

1. Patients stop avoiding consuming this because mouth gets dried.
2. Some highly irritated drugs like ATROVENT and COMBIVENT are to be taken with Spiriva .
3. Constipation
4. Trouble in passing urine
5. Increased heart rate
6. Blurry vision
7. Glaucoma

Also doctor’s consultancy must be taken before taking this medicine.

Advantages of Spiriva are: -

1. Helps in better breathing and improves breathing every day.
2. It is useful in many COPD therapies like: -
   i.) short-acting inhalers
   ii.) short-acting beta agonists
   iii.) theophylline
   iv.) oral and inhaled steroids

Since now proper testing of spiriva has not been done by atrovent or combivent inhalation aerosols therefore it is not generally recommended to consume this medicine with these medications.

So always consult a physician before consuming this type of medicine.

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