Tiotropium and Blurred Vision: What Users Say

• cat...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 19, 2013

For COPD, Maintenance "I was prescribed Spiriva about a year ago. At first, it was easier breathing with it. I developed over time issues. Ocular migraines, severe dry mouth, muscle pain, coughing that I didn't put together with the Spiriva. A few weeks ago, I began having badly blurred vision and did notice that it was happening about an hour after using Spiriva. I looked up the side effects online and found that this was a bad side effect of the drug. I stopped taking it and called my doctor. He simply told me to stop using it, but he did not tell me that some people get severe withdrawal symptoms. After three days, I had severe panic/anxiety attacks, lightheadedness, and felt like I was losing my mind. I was taking Xanax twice a day. All is gone now."

• Anonymous
• July 30, 2011

For COPD, Maintenance "I started taking Spiriva almost 3 weeks ago but have been advised to stop taking it as of today. I've had awful side effects that have built up: dry mouth, sinus problems, blood in my mucus when I blow my nose, blurred vision, dizziness, palpitations. I do know of people it has helped but does anybody else have the same problems as me?"

• bos...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 6, 2017

For COPD, Maintenance "I have been on Spiriva for a few years. It has helped my COPD. I have noticed that I have suffered acid reflux more recently this past year. I have also complained to my eye doctor that my eyeballs feel swollen and must blink constantly because of some fluid in my eyes causing blurred vision. The doctor said he doesn't know why I am suffering with these symptoms. Last January 2016, he did discover glaucoma in one eye. My next appointment is April 2017. I will see what he has to say regarding my taking Spiriva. I am waiting for my PCP to get back to me. I never realized you must keep your eyes closed when taking this medication. I pray it is not permanent damage to my eyes."

• Wen...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 1, 2024

For COPD, Maintenance "I have been using Spiriva Respimat for over a year. Helped with breathing a lot. However, in the last year, my eyes deteriorated a lot, blurry vision, and now halos around mainly street signs. And my sleep has gotten bad. I put this down to old age, never connected the two with a two-puff-a-day inhaler. I will not lose my ability to see. I will never use this medication again."

• Hat...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 27, 2019

For COPD, Maintenance "I was put on Spiriva over 4 yrs. ago. I noticed a change in my urine output pretty quickly, but the worst of it came out this week after being given Baclofen as well. The 2 together have had me dealing with sore throat and swollen glands. Difficulty swallowing, headache, blurred vision, dizziness, UTI, dry mouth, weird taste and smells, tremors, and insomnia."

• Mar...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 28, 2021

For COPD, Maintenance "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 44 years old). I also jump with any noise and get scared easily, I also have major anxiety. I suffered from insomnia before, but not like this. I feel as if I always have fluid in my lungs, something in my throat. I have a runny 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 my pulmonologist. I am having bad headaches lately too."

• cop...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 15, 2021

For Asthma, Maintenance "Have a complicated medical history including Addison's disease, pure autonomic failure, and many other secondary conditions. I have uncontrolled cough variant asthma. My doctor had me on 1.25 mcg last year when I struggled for 5 months to control my cough. This year I'm on 2.5 mcg. I'm on day 5, and this morning I ruptured a tendon in my wrist. I'm not sure if it's related, but the timeframe would indicate a possible correlation. Also, I have severe dry mouth, sores inside my mouth, and blurry vision. Lastly, when I take the inhaler, it triggers a bronchospasm, so now I start breathing in just before I activate the stream. I think it is working, but I am on 21 meds, so I can't be 100% certain."

• ABl...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 1, 2016

"Man, my vision started getting blurry and my voice got hoarse while using this. I teach and need clear vision and a clear voice, so I quit this stuff. I hated it."