Tiotropium and Hoarseness: What Users Say

• tnl...
• February 5, 2012

For COPD, Maintenance "Spiriva has been a miracle for me. Yes, there is some hoarseness, sinus issues, and difficulty urinating, but for me, the benefits far outweigh the side effects. The inhalers did nothing for my COPD - Spiriva made a HUGE difference in my ability to take in air. My illness is more emphysema type of COPD. I love it - 2 days without it and I can tell a huge difference. With Spiriva I can breathe again."

• Des...
• July 17, 2019

For COPD, Maintenance "Having read the comments on this forum, I can't believe how many similarities there are with the symptoms I am experiencing. Hoarseness and phlegm are the most annoying, closely followed by crackling in my ears, nasal congestion, and cramps. I have very recently taken myself off Spiriva to see whether my condition changes. I can't say Spiriva has been very beneficial on top of my mainstay medication, Seretide and Uniphyllin. It seemed to help initially, but I now think that was more to do with psychological factors. I recently went to see a throat specialist about the hoarseness/cough/phlegm issues, only to be advised that my medication was not a cause but that I was experiencing reflux, something I have never experienced before I started taking the medication. There was no acknowledgment from the medic that Spiriva has all of these side effects, as well as sinusitis and cramps."

• WTa...
• February 17, 2020

For COPD, Maintenance "I was taking Spiriva for over a month. It gave me hoarseness, swollen gums, and sores in my mouth. The worst cough ever, that's why I'm hoarse. I cough like I have TB, and so much phlegm it feels like I'm drowning. I thought I had double pneumonia until I read up on Spiriva side effects. My mouth has sores, it hurts to eat and swallow. I'm taking my rescue inhaler constantly because I'm choking on thick phlegm. I stopped taking it 4 days ago, and I'm the same. I may go to the hospital in the morning. I'm miserable and so sick. Never again will I take that stuff. My head hurts too, and I get dizzy and feel like I'm always low on water."

• Lpi...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 16, 2017

For COPD, Maintenance "Took this for about 4 years and had throat swelling, feeling like something wrapped around my neck, swallowing issues, and hoarseness. Blamed it on an operation to remove a cyst in my neck, but the symptoms were not from that procedure according to my ENT. I stopped using it for two years, and as my COPD worsened, my doc put me back on it. Bang, those symptoms came right back. I am now on Tudorza and doing better without those side effects."

• 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)."

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

For COPD, Maintenance "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."