Spiriva Information
Spiriva is a popular medicine that is generally prescribed in the prevention of a medical condition that narrows the lungs’ airways (bronchospasm). This medical condition is quite popular among patients who are suffering from emphysema, bronchitis, or COPD.
Spiriva Indications
Spiriva is a well known product that is prescribed to patients who are suffering from bronchospasm. However, this drug could also serve some other purposes that have not been mentioned here. Ask your personal health care provider for more information about Spiriva.
Spiriva Warnings
Before you start taking this drug you should inform your personal physician if you are suffering from narrow-angle glaucoma, bladder obstruction or enlarged prostate. Patients who have any of the medical disorders that have been listed here should not start taking Spiriva.
Spiriva is efficient only in the prevention of bronchospasm attacks and it should not be used in the case of a spasm that has already started (its actions are not fast enough to reverse the symptoms that are caused by the bronchospasm). Ask your personal health care provider to prescribe you a fast-acting medicine to treat such a spasm.
If you suspect that your treatment with Spiriva is not working properly (if your symptoms have gotten worse) you should alert your personal physician right away. You should not start a treatment with this drug if you are suffering from known allergic reactions to ipratropium (Atrovent), tiotropium, or atropine (Sal-Tropine, Atreza). Before starting to use this medicine you should inform your personal physician if you are allergic to any foods, dyes, preservatives or other substances (this includes other medicines).
Spiriva is a Category C FDA pregnancy drug. Therefore, a treatment with this product during pregnancy could sometimes trigger severe birth defects or complications. If you are pregnant, you should ask your doctor if you may start using Spiriva. It has not been clearly established if this medicine’s components can pass into the patient’s milk flow. Ask your doctor if it is safe to use this drug if you are nursing a child.
Spiriva Intake Guidelines
Ask your personal health care provider to give you precise directions regarding how to take / use this medicine. Do not disobey any of your personal physician’s instructions. If you did not understand some of them, it is highly recommended to ask a nurse or a pharmacist for further explanations. In case you want to know more about Spiriva you should read the medicine’s label.
The Spiriva capsules should be used one at a time, in the Hand Haler device. It is strictly forbidden to swallow them by mouth. In order to check to see if your treatment with this drug is paying off as it should, your lungs should be regularly tested. Do not miss any of your appointments with your personal health care provider. Each capsule of this medicine should be kept in its special blister pack until usage. Store this product away from heat and moisture, in a place that cannot be easily reached by pets or children.
Spiriva Dosage
Ask your doctor to tell you the exact dose of this drug that you should use. Do not change the dose that you have been prescribed without your physician’s approval. You should know that the correct doses of Spiriva can vary from one patient to another, as they depend on several factors (such as body weight, severity of the disorder, age, etc).
Spiriva Overdose
If you suspect that you might be suffering from an overdose with this product (Spiriva) you should seek medical care as soon as possible. You should alert your personal physician and your local poison control centre at once. You might have to go to the nearest emergency centre in order to receive a proper treatment for your condition. An overdose with this product could trigger stomach pain, Eye redness, dry mouth, constipation, and drowsiness or confusion.
Spiriva Missed Dose
If you happen to miss taking one of your prescribed doses of Spiriva, you should immediately ask your personal physician for further instructions. Do not use double doses of this product without your doctor’s approval as this is known to increase the risk of developing overdose.
Spiriva Side Effects
You should stop your treatment with Spiriva at once (and you should also alert your personal physician) if you develop any symptoms of an allergic reaction to this medicine’s components (such as hives; breathing difficulties; swelling of your lips, tongue, face, or throat, etc). Alert your personal health care provider as soon as possible if you start urinating less than usual.
A treatment with Spiriva could also trigger some other less severe side effects (which are more commonly experienced) like:
- cough, dry mouth, hoarseness;
- trouble swallowing;
- blurred vision;
- nosebleed, stuffy nose;
- constipation, nausea, upset stomach;
- drowsiness;
- fast heart beat;
- white patches in your throat or mouth.
A treatment with this medicine could also cause some other side effects that have not been listed in this guide. However, if you start to experience anything that is unusual or bothersome during your treatment with Spiriva you should alert your personal health care provider as soon as possible.
