Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or COPD is one of the most common lung diseases prevalent in the world today. COPD usually presents itself as a group of progressive respiratory diseases. Chronic bronchitis is a form of COPD that results from the inflammation and swelling of the air passages leading to the lungs. Emphysema is another common form of COPD that involves damage to the air sacs and breakdown of lung tissue.
The most common symptom associated with COPD is the difficulty to breathe that can worsen with any level of activity. In addition to shortness of breath, other symptoms include cough, fatigue and wheezing. While there is no permanent cure for the disease, several medications have been proven to provide effective relief from the symptoms and prevent the disease from getting worse.
Spiriva: How It Can Benefit Patients With COPD
Spiriva or tiotropium bromide oral inhalation is a new medication that is specifically used to treat people with COPD. Belonging to the class of medications known as bronchodilators, Spiriva is used to manage and control the various symptoms of COPD, such as shortness of breath, difficulty in breathing and wheezing. The oral inhalation medication provides relief to patients by opening up and relaxing the air passages to the lungs and making it significantly easier to breathe. Often prescribed alone or in combination with Atrovent or other COPD medications, using the new Spiriva can be immensely beneficial and convenient. A single dose of Spiriva can provide prolongedrelief for up to 24 hours, making it an ideal choice for those seeking a simplified and long-acting medication regimen. The capsule is administered only once a day, either in the morning or evening.
Spiriva is an inhaled medication that comes in the form of a capsule with a specially designed inhaler. The “HandiHaler” delivery device is activated by pressing a simple button. Upon activation, tiny holes are pierced into the Spiriva capsule, and the dry powder is released instantly for inhalation by the patient. Spiriva works most effectively when used only with the inhaler that it comes with. The capsules do not provide the desirable results when ingested orally. They are most effective when administered through the respiratory channel rather than the gastrointestinal tract.
The benefits of taking Spiriva to people suffering from COPD are many. Spiriva is an anticholerginic medication with highly effective bronchodilator properties and minimal side effects. Patients taking Spiriva might experience some minor side effects, such as dry mouth, constipation, sore throat, cough, headache, muscle pain or a metallic taste after inhalation, in the early stages of medication. These side effects are not considered as harmful or life threatening and generally do not require medical attention. The inhaler medication should be used exactly as directed by a doctor and cannot be stopped without medical approval.
The Road To Recovery Looks Brighter For Patients With COPD
With remarkably low side effects and the many positive benefits for COPD patients, Spiriva has currently become one of the most preferred drugs of choice for treating the condition. Although Spiriva does not permanently cure COPD, the much-recommended bronchodilator has helped ease many common challenges that come with managing the disease. Recent studies indicate that patients taking Spiriva experience many positive benefits resulting from a regular and consistent intake of the medication. Most of the patients have experienced a remarkable improvement in their breathing. In fact, many of them were eventually able to get off blue reliever medications altogether, with continued use of the prescription inhaler. Spiriva is also a safe alternative to people who cannot take B-agonists due to any underlying heart conditions. It has also been established that the use of Spiriva can be closely linked to a reduced incidence of COPD complications and hospitalizations in patients. More research is currently underway to determine the precise role that Spiriva might play in slowing down the progressive damage of lung functioning, a common occurrence with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Spiriva can also be safely administered as a part of a combination bronchodilator therapy under the guidance of a medical professional. When combined with another anticholinergic and a short-term beta agonist, Spiriva has been known to improve lung function, reduce the symptoms of COPD and boost the overall health of patients.
Whether prescribed alone or with other drugs, Spiriva has emerged as one of the most popular bronchodilators available today for the treatment of COPD. While its primary purpose is to treat bronchospasm, a common symptom of COPD, the long-acting inhaler medication shows immense promise in terms of alleviating many other key symptoms associated with the disease. Certainly not intended to be a rescue medication, a regular regimen that includes Spiriva can help COPD patients cope more effectively with the disease and envision a future where complete recovery is a possibility.
