Tiotropium and Dry Mouth: 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."

• sce...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 7, 2014

For COPD, Maintenance "My COPD was not getting any easier to live with. I stopped taking one medicine because it seemed to just make things worse. The doctor was not very helpful. But she did say, 'Well, you can try Spiriva.' I waited almost a week to try it. But when I had some time off from work, I decided it was time to give it a shot. I felt better quickly, but only for a few hours. I continued using it, and I must say that after 3 weeks, I am feeling much better. I got up this morning and did not even reach for the Albuterol. I am hopeful now, and I do recommend this medication. Side effects have been minor. Dry mouth is the only thing I can link to the medicine. I have started taking Potassium supplements again to overcome the leg cramps, which may be a side effect."

• Gum...
• March 31, 2013

For COPD, Maintenance "I've been on Spiriva for 6 months now with only dry mouth as an issue, so I keep hard candy around to suck on. I was at the point where I could not walk up a few steps without losing my breath, but now I can breathe again!"

• 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?"

• Anonymous
• December 8, 2011

For COPD, Maintenance "My husband started using Spiriva last Wednesday. He was breathing easier, but by Sunday, then he began experiencing crushing tightness in his chest, difficulty breathing, pulse rates of 111, high blood pressure, and chest pain. We took him to the ER because we thought he was having a heart attack. It turned out to be a severe allergic reaction to Spiriva. He won't be using it anymore. He also had dry mouth and difficulty urinating, which are also side effects."

• 64...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 26, 2015

For COPD, Maintenance "Was prescribed Spiriva when ill with bronchitis (never prescribed a maintenance inhaler although I have emphysema for 2 years - only used rescue inhaler). After 45 days of use, experienced moderate to extreme coughing that did not produce mucus, dry mouth, cloudy urine, wheezing as though lungs were filled with cotton, heartburn, flushing, chills, shortness of breath. Still had to use rescue inhaler 3-4 times per day. Stopped use, all symptoms ceased. Will ask pulmonologist for another brand. Everyone's tolerance is different."

• tty...
• October 3, 2011

For COPD, Maintenance "I have taken this medicine on and off for 2 years and the side effects outweigh the benefits. Terrible night cramps, dry mouth, coldness down to the bone all the time which goes away when I stop taking it. I can breathe better with it but it is not worth the other side effects. I have had bronchitis and asthma since I was 8 years old, and I am now 70."

• wol...
• May 29, 2010

For COPD, Maintenance "Spiriva caused my breathing to worsen. I experienced the dry mouth symptom. Spiriva did NOT break up mucus. I noticed NO relief. After about a week of use, I was forced to stop its use and resort to my rescue inhaler (Primatene). God bless those whom this medication helps, but it is not for me. It seems I have had a paradoxical effect."

• gms...
• December 29, 2011

For COPD, Maintenance "Started using Spiriva in 2003 and noticed much improvement in breathing and endurance. As my emphysema has worsened and flare-ups occurred more frequently, my pulmonologist added Onbrez and it too is very helpful. The combination is effective for me, FEV1 went from 37% to 52%. My principal side effect is dry mouth, but a sip of water now and then beats shortness of breath or worse."

• cha...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 22, 2019

For COPD, Maintenance "My pulmonologist gave me two sample dispensers (28 puffs each). I had dramatic negative effects. I didn't realize the problems were Spiriva, however, until finishing the first sample and two days into the 2nd. I started having dramatic dry mouth, infected sinuses, and a very sore throat. My dry mouth was so severe I had to see my GP. His first question was, 'Have you used any new meds?'-and bingo. He told me to immediately stop using. I called my pulmonologist and reported what my GP told me. She agreed. It's been over a week since I stopped, but I still have terrible dry mouth and a sore throat. Bummer!"

• 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."

• 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."

• Mim...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 7, 2020

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

• Lan...
• October 21, 2021

For COPD, Maintenance "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."

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

For COPD, Maintenance "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!"

• 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)."

• 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."

• Mer...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 20, 2022

"I developed a respiratory virus (I have asthma, but it is very well controlled on Symbicort). The nurse at my doctor's office gave me a sample of Spiriva and said it would help my cough and there are no side effects except perhaps a dry mouth. She said I would be better in a couple of days. Nothing could be further from the truth. I got much worse-coughing became much, much worse, and I developed horrible post-nasal drip, constipation, arm pain, increased heart rate. I could not sleep because of all the coughing. I had to take other meds to deal with the side effects. I took Spiriva for 12 days. I should have stopped it sooner."