Spiriva Disease Interactions

Angioedema has been reported during therapy with inhaled anticholinergic agents. Therapy with these agents should be administered cautiously in patients at risk of developing angioedema and if such reaction occurs during treatment, therapy should be stopped at once and alternative treatments should be considered. In addition, therapy with Spiriva HandiHaler should be used with caution in patients with severe hypersensitivity to milk proteins as the product contains the inactive ingredient, lactose monohydrate.

Aclidinium, ipratropium, umeclidinium, and tiotropium are anticholinergic agents. Although systemic effects are uncommon due to the poor absorption of quaternary ammonium compounds from gastrointestinal and nasal mucosa, worsening of urinary retention or angle-closure glaucoma has been reported. Increased intraocular pressure and precipitation or exacerbation of angle-closure glaucoma may also occur due to inadvertent contact of the eye with aerosolized or nebulized drug. Accordingly, therapy with quaternary ammonium compounds should be administered cautiously in patients with urinary retention/obstruction or angle-closure glaucoma. Measures should be taken whenever possible to minimize ocular exposure to these drugs, such as keeping eyes closed during oral inhalation or use of a mouthpiece rather than face mask during nebulization. Patients should be advised to contact their physician if they experience urinary difficulty (especially in patients with prostatic hyperplasia or bladder neck obstruction); or signs and symptoms of angle-closure glaucoma (e.g., eye pain or discomfort; blurred vision; visual halos; colored images in association with red eyes from conjunctival congestion or corneal edema).

Cases of supraventricular tachycardia and atrial fibrillation have been reported with the use of inhaled anticholinergic agents in patients with COPD/Asthma. Care and monitoring of cardiac function is recommended when prescribing these agents to patients at risk.

The effects of hepatic impairment on the pharmacokinetics of tiotropium have not been studied. Caution is recommended when prescribing this agent to patients with impaired liver function.

Tiotropium is primarily eliminated unchanged by the kidney. Renal impairment has been associated with increased plasma drug concentrations and reduced drug clearance after both intravenous infusion and dry powder inhalation. Mild renal impairment (CrCl 50 to 80 mL/min), which is often seen in elderly patients, increased tiotropium systemic exposure (AUC) by 39% following intravenous infusion. In COPD patients with moderate to severe renal impairment (CrCl < or equals to 50 mL/min), tiotropium AUC increased 82% following intravenous administration, which was confirmed by plasma concentrations after dry powder inhalation. Although generally well tolerated, therapy with ipratropium should be administered cautiously in patients with moderate to severe renal impairment. Monitoring for renal function is recommended. Patients should be advised of and monitored for potentially increased systemic adverse effects such urinary retention.