Tiotropium for COPD, Maintenance User Reviews (Page 4)

• Kitef...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 2, 2021

Spiriva Respimat (tiotropium) "I have only been using this inhaler for over a week. I can't believe the difference. I can walk up a slope and not be panting for breath. It is so easy to take as the mist comes out slowly its easier to breathe it in. It is better than other inhalers to take. I was shown how to take it by my respiratory nurse."

• Mimi
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 7, 2020

Spiriva (tiotropium) "I was short of breath and tests showed I have 55% lung capacity. Pulmonologist increased Advair and added Spiriva. I have been dry mouth, sore and red tongue (I rinse afterwards always), constipation, worsening of tremors.."

• chuck...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 22, 2023

Spiriva (tiotropium) "I was prescribed Spiriva by my doctor 8 years ago because he thought my smoking for 10 years caused COPD; however, I discontinued use after a week because I believed I did not have COPD, but now I have severe dry lips, mouth, choke while eating and cough 24 hours a day. I must use chapstick every day and, suck on lemon drops & ice, and drink water every day. However, nothing has helped my severe dry mouth, and it appears I must now live with Severe dry mouth for the rest of my life. I do not recommend this product and am desperate for help/relief on this matter!"

• John...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 8, 2017

Spiriva (tiotropium) "Took for 2 months plus for COPD. Worked pretty well. Then I noticed ulcers on my arm that at first I thought were gardening boo boos I had missed. Had leg spasms at night but woke up one morning with severe sore chest, like a mule kicked me. Got worse and then became sore back, too. Quit the drug but spent the next night in a chair. Same time had itchy eye that is now stye/cold sore on eyelid. 3 nights without and still sore chest but better. Arm has scabbed, feels like ice water there under skin. Not so horrible side effects but certainly not worth the benefit and cost."

• Linda...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 27, 2023

Spiriva Respimat (tiotropium) "This works much better than the last two inhalers I've had. The others felt as though I was breathing in loose pieces of sandpaper. Amazingly, when I use SR, I can breathe much better and much quicker."

• GanGan
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• June 26, 2020

Spiriva (tiotropium) "I have been on Spiriva for about 3 years for severe asthma also Breo, was on Simbicort with the Spiriva. When I had the capsules, there were empty ones so I asked my dr to put me on the Respimat. In the last 3 years, I have been plagued with very thick mucous, to the point I gag, upper respiratory infections ever 3 months pneumonia 2X, and my breathing has gotten worse. My Dr insists this is the right medication for me and if I would lose weight I will feel better. I have asked to get the medicine changed but my pulmonologist insists the medicine is working for me and my PCP agrees. The price is outrageous and there is no generic in the U.S however there is one in Canada. Being on a fixed income at 69 I am forced to use my charge and both the Breo and Spiriva are outrageously expensive. My brother has emphysema and his breathing is better than mine."

• Lana
• October 21, 2021

Spiriva (tiotropium) "I have taken Spiriva Respimat for a total of thirty days; two weeks and a five day break and another 2 ½ weeks. It does improve my breathing a little bit but the side effects are not worth the slight easing of my breathing. I have extremely dry throat, sometimes can barely talk, my heartbeat went up significantly, my eyesight is all blurring so that I can hardly see to read, heartburn and generally feeling lousy. I am stopping it no matter what my GP thinks…and she is very bossy. However I feel generally too rotten to continue…absolutely no energy or motivation to do anything. I give it a 3 ½ out of ten because it does ease my breathing somewhat. I wish that I was one of the ones with no side effects. I have never smoked a single cigarette so how I came to have COPD is beyond me. My husband didn’t smoke either."

• Delia
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 26, 2022

Spiriva Respimat (tiotropium) "I had to go on it because Salbutamol use became excessive and not really working anymore. I do struggle a bit with side effects, but I am 64 and have a post viral syndrome, so any medication can whack me around. I go to the loo a bit on this and a bit itchy but otherwise it is great to breath freely again, just like I used to! I do get a bit of trouble getting off to sleep but that is getting better. I persevere with this because I know my life is being shortened with COPD and it can only get worse and this medication may alleviate the worst symptoms in the next few years. I do not like gasping for breath while talking to my husband. Not a nice look"

• Mary
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 28, 2021

Spiriva (tiotropium) "Spiriva was a miracle medicine for me, I've been on it for almost 4 years now, but my health has changed. I'm having very bad blurred vision, extreme insomnia, tachycardia, I suffer from mental fogginess, forgetfulness, confusion, dizziness, (I am only 44years old ), I also jump with any noise and get scared easily, I also have mayor anxiety. I suffered from insomnia before, but not like this. I feel as I always have fluid in my lungs, something in my throat, I have a running nose constantly, (I am fully vaccinated, had minor side effects, but everything always targets my chest). Spiriva has controlled my asthma for a while, but now I'm not so sure, if I didn't take it or forgot to, I would not be able to breathe. I have tried well over 9 asthma medications and had severe side effects to most. Spiriva did help me manage to reduce the use of my albuterol (emergency inhaler). I have stopped cold turkey 4-5 days ago and need to contact me pulmonologist, I am having bad headaches lately too."

• loufl...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 25, 2022

Spiriva (tiotropium) "Awful now stuck on this horrible medication until I can see my specialist, not happy but cannot stop taking it as it causes my throat to inflame really badly and messes up my blood gasses too so I feel really ill, wish the doctor had bothered to mention to me that you cannot just stop taking it ! It has also given me insomnia and depression, horrible stuff defo would not recommend at all."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 26, 2022

Spiriva (tiotropium) "Spiriva’s Handihaler delivery system is a complete disgrace. I have had many conversations with manufacturer and they are unwilling to own up to the fact that either the handihaler is defective or the capsules are duds. SHAME."

• Linda
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 31, 2020

Spiriva (tiotropium) "I had to quit spiriva after using it 1 1/2 years! I had gotten some kind of sinus infection with heavy coughing, took antibiotics and felt better. But after that the Spiriva did not work for me at all..I had no problems with Spiriva at all before that - it was a miracle drug"

• Stefan
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 1, 2022

Spiriva (tiotropium) "While it has helped my COPD I have had many problems over the years with the handihaler not working properly and ruining capsule Initially we were given one handihaler with 90 day supply and now each 30 day supply has a handihaler but it doesn’t matter - I have been forced to discard many capsules due to malfunction of handihaler and I think this company should be ashamed of themselves. I have tried to resolve this with them and they have been very uncooperative"

• Phyllis...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 11, 2021

Spiriva (tiotropium) "My biggest concern is the fact in every carton of Spiriva you can be sure you will have empty capsules or the handihaler makes exceedingly big holes in capsule. I have cited this problem on many occasions"

• Small...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 1, 2021

Spiriva (tiotropium) "I have taken it for 2 ½ weeks and haven’t noticed any difference in my breathing. Because I have a giant hernia I can’t do a PF test so don’t know if I have COPD or asthma. One GP said asthma the next said COPD. I currently use Symbicort with Salbutamol when needed. I have never smoked. The Spiriva gave me sores in my mouth, an extremely dry mouth and throat, anxiety and bad, side and leg pain, though I am not sure it caused all of that as I have other chronic conditions. Since it didn’t help I have stopped it to see if the sores, anxiety and back pain go away or reduce. I don’t know how to rate it because I was in a severe car accident that ruptured my diaphragm, collapsed one lung and a severely fractured femur. I was on a ventilator for over a week and wonder if my breathing problems aren’t a result of that so I will give a tentative 5."

• Brose
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 5, 2021

Spiriva (tiotropium) "For years, I wake up, immediately need 2 puffs of albuterol to clear my chest and relieve the tightness. Typically takes an hour before I can breathe freely. Spiriva Respimat was prescribed, and the 1st dose taken yesterday. I woke up this morning with greatly reduced tightness, able to breathe well. I am a true believer in this med!"

• hopeful
• July 24, 2010

"There needs to be more time spent when a person starts this medication, to allow them to get the most they can from it. Even though the directions are clear there is no substitute for personal direction. It has been my experience that the nurses, and in some cases the doctors do not take time to explain the do's and don'ts. I had to learn 75% of this on my own. The medicine, however, along with other drugs I am taking are making life much better."

• Chris...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 9, 2024

Spiriva (tiotropium) "I am a 51 y.o male and after a bad lung infection in 2021, I began using Spiriva combined with Symbicort and antibiotics (numerous rounds). It took me a few months for my infection to go away. I have taken Spiriva and Symbicort for over two years and thank God, have not had any major shortness of breath that lasts. Now, I do have some pretty intense muscle cramps in arms, legs, and in my jaw, minor headaches. But the side effects are nothing compared to smothering."

• Phyllis...
• January 23, 2022

Spiriva (tiotropium) "I have no problem with effectiveness. I do however have a huge problem with quality of the capsule and handihaler for many years. The piercing device makes a huge hole in capsule and makes it unusable. SHAME"

• wina
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 28, 2024

Spiriva (tiotropium) "I have been taking 2.5 mcg now for 12 days after diagnosed with severe COPD. After taking, I feel weak and somewhat nauseous that last about two hours. I sometimes think it's in my head because I'm somewhat scared from my diagnosis. After that, I am fine and no other problems. It really has made a difference in my breathing, thank goodness. I will continue to take as the alternative is no breath. Just wondered if anyone else has had this side effect. I go to my doctor in a couple of weeks and I will go over. I just hope this will go away. If anyone out there has this symptom, I'd like to hear about it."

• Buff
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 17, 2024

Spiriva (tiotropium) "Asthma or COPD. Smoked cigarettes for 30 years. 50 now. Spiriva helps very much with my complaint which was a suffocating feeling and constant wheezing. Side effects are occasional cough and hoarseness. Been taking for 6 months. I previously took Trelegy but the severe cough side effect made me stop. I occasionally use albuterol nebulizer in emergencies."

• darst...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 28, 2013

Spiriva (tiotropium) "For the last four years I have been taking Spiriva before bed. Recently I switched to morning. What a difference! My daytime breathing has really improved."

• Anonymous
• October 17, 2010

Spiriva (tiotropium) "After 3 days of use, my voice becomes very hoarse and I feel like I have a wad of phlegm caught in my throat, which I am not able to clear. Because of this, I only use it now and then."

• Thor
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• January 26, 2015

Spiriva (tiotropium) "The first few years, I didn't puff Spiriva daily, and I didn't think it worked. As my COPD got worse, I used it daily. It took about 1 month to work, but it really helps."

• Mamas...
• March 23, 2015

Spiriva (tiotropium) "Spiriva Respimat is amazing. It has made a huge quality of life difference for me. I haven't been able to breathe this well for years."