Asthma
SPIRIVA® Respimat® (tiotropium) for severe asthma
Asthma
What is Asthma?
Asthma is a long-term disease characterised by airway inflammation and narrowing of the airways.1
Symptoms
Not all patients with asthma have symptoms all the time, symptoms might happen randomly or only when patients are exposed to a trigger, such as allergies (including dust, animal fur or pollen), cold air, cigarette smoke, pollution, exercise or cold or flu infections.2,3
Patients with asthma may experience some of the following symptoms, which can disrupt their everyday life:2,3
Shortness of breath, even after light or moderate activity
Chest tightness
Coughing
Sometimes patients with asthma might experience an asthma attack, where their symptoms may temporarily worsen.3
How is asthma treated?
Inhaled medicines are usually used to treat asthma to help patients with asthma manage their symptoms and reduce their chances of having an attack.1
Severe asthma
Severe asthma is a specific type of asthma, where symptoms do not improve with usual asthma treatments, even if taken exactly as prescribed.4 Severe asthma may increase the risk of having an asthma attack or needing to go to a hospital.4 It can affect both adults and children, but it is much less common than asthma.4 If a patient has severe asthma, their doctor will work with them to find additional treatments to help control their symptoms and improve their quality of life.5
What is SPIRIVA® Respimat® (tiotropium)?
SPIRIVA® Respimat® (tiotropium) is used to help people who have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or severe asthma to breathe more easily. It contains the active ingredient tiotropium which is a bronchodilator (long-acting muscarinic antagonist). SPIRIVA® Respimat® helps to open the airways and get air in and out of the lungs. SPIRIVA® Respimat® (tiotropium) should be used in addition to so-called inhaled corticosteroids and other bronchodilators (e.g., long-acting β2 agonists).1
Possible side effects
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them. The most common side effect which may be experienced when taking SPIRIVA® Respimat® (tiotropium) is dry mouth.1
In addition, in common with all inhaled medicines, some patients may experience an unexpected tightness of the chest, coughing, wheezing or breathlessness immediately after inhalation (bronchospasm). If any of these occur, please consult your doctor.1
Please refer to the patient information leaflet for further information about possible side effects.
References
- SPIRIVA® Respimat® Patient Information Leaflet.
- Asthma + Lung UK. Symptoms of asthma. Available from: https://www.asthmaandlung.org.uk/conditions/asthma/symptoms-asthma (Accessed August 2023).
- NHS Choices. Asthma. Available from: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/asthma/ (Accessed August 2023).
- Asthma + Lung UK. What is severe asthma? Available from: https://www.asthmaandlung.org.uk/conditions/severe-asthma/what-severe-asthma (Accessed August 2023).
- Asthma + Lung UK. How is severe asthma treated? Available from: https://www.asthmaandlung.org.uk/conditions/severe-asthma/how-severe-asthma-treated (Accessed August 2023).
NP-GB-1002342 V2August 2023
