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Spiriva Inhaler

Posted , 5 users are following.

shazzaGal
shazzaGal

Hi, I was diagnosed with COPD on Monday and prescribed Spiriva Inhaler. This morning when inhaling capsule I felt nothing was coming out so tried another one. Has anyone had this happen as now worried I might have double dosed?? Also I get waking headaches and more clearing of throat after taking inhaler, is this normal ? Thanks

0 likes, 16 replies

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  • Grunthos
    Grunthos shazzaGal

    Posted

    Hi,

    As long as the capsule vibrates as you breathe in you will be OK.  I usually breathe in through the HandiHaler twice just to make sure the capsule has emptied.  If you feel like checking the spent capsule just pull it apart to see if it is empty.

    Are you in the UK?  If so, the NHS has been recommended not to prescribe Spiriva because of the expense.  Mine was changed a couple of months ago to Braltus, which delivers the same medication but is cheaper.

    Just for the record I took Spiriva for ten years and never felt as if I was breathing anything in but did get a dry throat occasionally.

    • shazzaGal
      shazzaGal Grunthos

      Posted

      Just felt air this morning on first one and no rattle.  If on 10 years you must find it good. Hope your new med is just as good.  I live in Ireland and Spiriva covered on medical card. Will just have to get used to taking as doc said will prob be on 'forever'!!

    • Grunthos
      Grunthos shazzaGal

      Posted

      There are other medications for COPD so I doubt if Spiriva will be "forever"!!

      Ten years ago the recommended treatment was Seretide plus tiotropium (Spiriva is tiotropium).  Recent research found that Seretide contributed to chest infection so now the recommended treatment for COPD is a combination inhaler such as Trimbow or Anoro Ellipta.  I tried both of these.  Anoro Ellipta left me tired and Trimbow was OK but I was put off both of them because a common side-effect these two is urinary tract infection.  As I have prostate problems I decided to go back to tiotropium with a steroid component.  So, after all this trial and error I'm on Seretide plus Braltus.  Seretide is no longer recommended for the NHS because of the expense so I've been told I will be put onto a cheaper replacement as soon as I'm sure that Braltus is working as well as Spiriva did.

      I've found that the best thing to do is to work with your GP or COPD nurse to find a medication regime that suits you.  That will leave everybody happy!

    • shazzaGal
      shazzaGal Grunthos

      Posted

      I'm sure I will be switched around at some stage, not sure of Spiriva will suit as voice gone croaky since taking and don't think it has fully kicked in, though early days I suppose.

  • morty96319
    morty96319 shazzaGal

    Posted

    i have been on spiriva ever since it was approved. fyi,,,spiiva now available  for respimat 1.25 mg and 2.5 mg
    • shazzaGal
      shazzaGal morty96319

      Posted

      Thanks Morty, have been on for 5 days.  Did it take awhile to kick in initially? Doctor prescribed inhaler so will have to stick to that for a while.  
  • sweetbee1
    sweetbee1 shazzaGal

    Posted

    You are clearing your throat to cough up all that gunk out. Theres a vid on youtube on how to use your inhaler with a capsule. Shake it for 10 secs before using is what it said.
    • shazzaGal
      shazzaGal sweetbee1

      Posted

      Thank you Sweetbee I will have a look on Youtube.  Haven't been shaking capsule but will try.  So inhaler is loosening gunk, that's good to know.  Don't have much mucus though.

    • shazzaGal
      shazzaGal sweetbee1

      Posted

      Thank you Sweetbee I will have a look on Youtube.  Haven't been shaking capsule but will try.  So inhaler is loosening gunk, that's good to know.  Don't have much mucus though.

    • Grunthos
      Grunthos sweetbee1

      Posted

      There is no need to shake the capsule!  The whole point of the design is that the HandiHaler pierces a hole in both the top and the bottom of the capsule.  The act of inhaling vibrates the capsule so that the dry powder is shaken out and breathed into the lungs.  Maybe the Respimat version is different but I wouldn't have thought so.  Just stick to the instructions in the Patient Information Leaflet whichever inhaler you use.

  • davidjk22
    davidjk22 shazzaGal

    Posted

    If you open a capsule you will see that there is very little powder in it. About the size of one third of a match head, so it's not often you feel that anything is coming out. Please stop worrying, it may take a short while before you feel any benefit. You were only diagnosed 4 days ago and I bet you have done 4 years worth of UNNESSARY worrying since then. You are in Ireland, be Irish, none of my Irish relations worry.

    • shazzaGal
      shazzaGal davidjk22

      Posted

      Haha very true David, I should be more Irish about it 😊. I have been worrying a while but nothing like since diagnosis. Good to hear you have Irish connections.

    • davidjk22
      davidjk22 shazzaGal

      Posted

      From Galway and very laid back. Seriously though mild copd is really liveable with and not a reason to worry about. I was relieved when the doctor told me that I had copd and not something else beginning with C.
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