Spiriva Respimat Special Precautions

Tiotropium bromide, as a once daily maintenance bronchodilator, should not be used for the initial treatment of acute episodes of bronchospasm or for the relief of acute symptoms. In the event of an acute attack, a rapid-acting beta-2-agonist should be used.
Spiriva Respimat should not be used as a first-line treatment for asthma. Asthma patients must be advised to continue taking anti-inflammatory therapy, i.e. Inhaled corticosteroids, unchanged after the introduction of Spiriva Respimat, even when their symptoms improve.
Immediate hypersensitivity reactions may occur after administration of tiotropium bromide solution for inhalation.
Consistent with its anticholinergic activity, tiotropium bromide should be used with caution in patients with narrow-angle glaucoma, prostatic hyperplasia or bladder-neck obstruction.
Inhaled medicines may cause inhalation-induced bronchospasm.
As plasma concentration increases with decreased renal function in patients with moderate to severe renal impairment (creatinine clearance ≤50 ml/min) tiotropium bromide should be used only if the expected benefit outweighs the potential risk. There is no long term experience in patients with severe renal impairment (see Pharmacology: Pharmacokinetics under Actions).
Patients should be cautioned to avoid getting the spray into their eyes. They should be advised that this may result in precipitation or worsening of narrow-angle glaucoma, eye pain or discomfort, temporary blurring of vision, visual halos or coloured images in association with red eyes from conjunctival congestion and corneal oedema. Should any combination of these eye symptoms develop, patients should stop using tiotropium bromide and consult a specialist immediately.
Dry mouth, which has been observed with anti-cholinergic treatment, may in the long term be associated with dental caries.
Tiotropium bromide should not be used more frequently than once daily (see Overdosage).
This medicine contains 0.0011 mg benzalkonium chloride in each actuation. Benzalkonium chloride may cause wheezing and breathing difficulties. Patients with asthma are at an increased risk for these adverse events.
Effects on ability to drive and use machines: No studies on the effects on the ability to drive and use machines have been performed. The occurrence of dizziness or blurred vision may influence the ability to drive and use machinery.