Tiotropium for COPD, Maintenance User Reviews (Page 4)

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

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."

• Mam...
• July 12, 2017

Tiotropium "My sleep doctor prescribed this med following a series of breathing tests that showed I had some narrowing of my bronchial tubes. I do have sleep apnea but not COPD. An autoimmune disorder manifests in my muscles, legs, and feet makes balance and walking difficult, causing shortness of breath. That is the reason for the prescription. I noticed unreasonable increasing irritability within a few days of taking the inhaler. I have a bad reaction to prednisone historically, experiencing psychotic fugue with disastrous consequences. My doctor assured me that Spiriva was nothing like prednisone. It most certainly is - at least for me! Side effects found online are: depression, irritability, feelings of emptiness, etc. Exactly my experience with Spiriva."

• zsz...
• May 24, 2016

Tiotropium "Just diagnosed with COPD a few weeks ago. My GP put me on Spiriva Respimat inhaler. In a few days, I broke out with a skin rash on my back, chest, upper arms, lower legs, etc. Immediately discontinued the Spiriva and was put on a different drug. No complications from the new drugs in the past 2 or 3 weeks so far."

• P O...
• May 30, 2016

Tiotropium "Threw new applicator away by mistake. They will not send me a new one. I had to wait 30 days before my insurance would let me get a new one, so I'm out my money. All I have is the cartridge with no way to use it."

• mar...
• November 3, 2016

Tiotropium "While using this med, I opened the top, turned it, sprayed while inhaling, and it would not stop spraying, almost choking me and taking my breath away. I dropped it on the table, and it continued spraying for about a minute. I called the company, and after being transferred and 15 mins later, they were of no help whatsoever. I told the last girl I spoke to their product sucks, it is obvious these people don't care what happens to anyone using their product. I will also be contacting the FDA."

• Gan...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• June 26, 2020

Tiotropium "I have been on Spiriva for about 3 years for severe asthma, also Breo. I was on Symbicort with the Spiriva. When I had the capsules, there were empty ones, so I asked my doctor to put me on the Respimat. In the last 3 years, I have been plagued with very thick mucus, to the point I gag. Upper respiratory infections every 3 months, pneumonia twice, and my breathing has gotten worse. My doctor 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."

• Lan...
• October 21, 2021

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 an extremely dry throat, sometimes can barely talk, my heartbeat went up significantly, my eyesight is all blurry 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 were 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."

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

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 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."

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

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!"

• Del...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 26, 2022

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 breathe 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."

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

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 a severe sore chest, like a mule kicked me. Got worse and then became a sore back, too. Quit the drug but spent the next night in a chair. Same time had an itchy eye that is now a stye/cold sore on my eyelid. 3 nights without it and still a 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."

• Dee...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 14, 2024

Tiotropium "I took Advair for a long time, but it has steroids in it, and it weakens bones, contributes to weight gain, etc., and I just didn't want to be on steroid meds long-term, even if it's less than the pills ingested. I am a senior and have urgent bladder syndrome, and the upside is it helps with controlling that. I hear people talk about leg cramps, I have no problem with that, which is a low potassium problem that diet or supplements can help with. I have not had any bronchitis or phlegm problems, and if I do, I take Mucinex right away to make it lose and expel it. There is also a breathing exercise I found online that helps expel phlegm. Drink water so you don't dehydrate, and watch diuretic drinks like coffee, beer, etc. This medication you should not drink alcohol with. I'm going on my second month of it. Hope I don't get short-term memory issues with it as I did with a medication to control my urgent bladder problem I had to stop. My breathing is very good right now."

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

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."

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

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 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."

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

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

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

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

• hop...
• 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."

• Ste...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 1, 2022

Tiotropium "While it has helped my COPD, I have had many problems over the years with the Handihaler not working properly and ruining capsules. Initially, we were given one Handihaler with a 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 the malfunction of the 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."

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

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."

• Bro...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 5, 2021

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 was taken yesterday. I woke up this morning with greatly reduced tightness, able to breathe well. I am a true believer in this med!"

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

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 I 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."

• Pat...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• October 18, 2024

Tiotropium "My experience with Spiriva Respimat has been very good. I’ve been using Spiriva for about eight years, and it helps very much with my breathing. I have not noticed any side effects in the years I have been taking it."

• Phy...
• January 23, 2022

Tiotropium "I have no problem with effectiveness. I do, however, have a huge problem with the quality of the capsule and HandiHaler for many years. The piercing device makes a huge hole in the capsule and makes it unusable. SHAME."

• win...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 28, 2024

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."

• Sha...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 14, 2024

Tiotropium "I really resisted taking any more drugs for everything under the sun; but, Spiriva has REALLY worked wonders for me. I can breathe again! Unfortunately, the Spiriva is REALLY EXPENSIVE (close to $600 for a 90-day supply) and between that and two other really expensive meds that I have to take for cardiac issues, it was costing us more than our mortgage! So, I'm now being told that there's this generic Spiriva that's been FDA approved for just a $35/mo co-pay, and I'm going to give it a try. If all goes well, as I expect it will, I won't be back with an update. However, if I experience any terrible side effects, I'll be back to post more info. As it is, my husband and doctors all call me an 'outlier' because I'm allergic to everything...so, we'll see what happens here. For right now, I'll be rating the actual original Spiriva!"