Spiriva and Insomnia: What Users Say

• vic...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 2, 2020

For COPD, Maintenance "I took Spiriva for one month. I stopped taking it when I realized I was severely agitated at everything, my heart would not stop racing, I had insomnia, and I was developing urinary retention. I have been off this drug now for 2 and 1/2 weeks. I was hospitalized for 3 days for the racing heart and chest pain. I'm still having problems with urinary retention. I am truly scared that this drug has done permanent damage to my heart that hasn't been found yet. I was referred yesterday to a cardiologist, but I will have to wait almost 4 weeks for the appointment. I have only slept two nights in the last 3 weeks. I have never had such a horrible reaction to any medication ever. I am wondering if anyone else has had these types of symptoms? I spoke to a pharmacist at the FDA who told me it takes an entire month for this medicine to clear your system."

• 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."

• Ser...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 17, 2016

For COPD, Maintenance "I was prescribed this because of asthma, and I have difficulty taking other inhalers because of side effects. I noticed within a few minutes that my throat started to burn after using this med. It seems to irritate my throat. I also have chest pain in my left breast and difficulty sleeping. Because of these side effects, I am going to stop using it. I am beginning to suspect inhalers aren't going to work for me."

• Sar...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 20, 2017

For COPD, Maintenance "I had a parathyroid removed the end of May. One of the complications I was having was shortness of breath. A month after surgery, a pulmonologist followed up with tests and said I have beginning COPD. She recommended Spiriva. The first two weeks I started feeling better. Then I started feeling tired all the time, my eyes seemed puffy, my weight was going up, peeing frequently with urgency, dry mouth, cuts healed slow, developed heartburn, my joints all felt achy, sleep was poor, and I was retaining fluid and needing Lasix at least twice a week, and having tearful moodiness. Labs showed high glucose. I have never been a diabetic. Now, regular testing the last 4 days shows I am prediabetic. Apparently, 1 in 10,000 can become prediabetic."

• 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."

• Mem...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 2, 2020

"I am taking this Spiriva along with other products, so not sure which medication is responsible for what. Conclusion: My symptoms are better (MUCH easier to breathe), although the improvement on objective measures is very modest. When I first started, the hoarseness and dry mouth were extreme (and insomnia; and being jittery); fortunately, it got better over time, although I am still often hoarse; and now it seems that fatigue is building up. For me, the improvement in breathing is worth the side effects (for now)."

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

For COPD, Maintenance "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 gases 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."