Spiriva Respimat

NHS Senior Clinical Pharmacist, Irsalan Ahmed (MPharm) provides a simple explanation of the medication below:

'Spiriva is used as a long-term maintenance anticholinergic inhaler used in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)'.

If you think Spiriva Respimat is a treatment that can help you, start an online consultation now for a registered prescriber to review. If treatment is deemed suitable, they can prescribe it, and we can deliver it to you from the comfort of your own home with a range of convenient delivery and payment options for you to choose from. If you have any questions about a medication, you should always consult your doctor with any questions prior to starting treatment, to ensure that it is safe and suitable for you.

Spiriva Respimat is a medicine that is used to treat severe asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), such as emphysema and chronic bronchitis.

For more information on the prescription medication patients should refer to the Spiriva Respimat patient information leaflet.

When treating asthma, Spiriva Respimat helps to prevent attacks of breathlessness, and when treating chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), it works to reduce the number of flare ups.

The active ingredients in the medication help the airways in the lungs to stay open, making it easier for air to get in and out and making it easier for the person to breathe normally. It also reduces inflammation, swelling and irritation.

Asthma and COPD can be debilitating illnesses that hinder daily life, while onset attacks of pain or breathlessness can be painful as well as worrying.

Taking Spiriva Respimat will help to manage these conditions, with effects of the active ingredients lasting for 24 hours.

It should be noted however, that this medication is a preventative measure and not a quick fix. If you do have an attack of breathlessness or wheeziness, then you will need to instead use a fast-acting “rescue” inhaler, which you should always have with you.

Spiriva Respimat is a prescription-only medication. Always follow the advice of your doctor and read the patient information leaflet provided in the packet.

Your doctor or nurse should show you how to properly use your inhaler before starting on this medication. The inhaler has a mouthpiece at the top, a cap for when it’s not in use and an indicator on the front to let you know how many doses are remaining.

To administer a dose, hold the inhaler upright and turn the clear base (in the direction of the arrows) until you hear a click. Open the cap, breathe out as far as is comfortable, then immediately place the inhaler in your mouth (pointing to the back of your throat) and close your lips around it.

Breathe in deeply and steadily, press the dose-release button on the top of the inhaler and then hold your breath for 10 seconds. Remove the inhaler from your mouth and breathe out slowly. Repeat these steps for the second puff and then close the cap. After use, it’s also a good idea to rinse your mouth out or brush your teeth, as leftover residue from the medication can leave you with a strange taste, and can also lead to thrush of the mouth or hoarseness.

Spiriva Respimat contains the active ingredient tiotropium, at a strength of 2.5 micrograms, per delivered dose.

The recommended dose is two puffs once a day, which should be at the same time each day as the medication lasts for 24 hours. Always follow the advice of your doctor and don’t take a different dose unless specifically told to.

Each time you use your inhaler, the dose indicator will get lower, so that you know when to see your doctor to get a new one.

If you forget to use your Spiriva Respimat then you should skip the forgotten dose and move straight onto the next one. Don’t double up on your dose to make up for a missed one.

If you take more Spiriva Respimat than you should, then contact your doctor or pharmacist. Side effects of overdose include your heart beating faster than usual, blurred vision and dry mouth.

You can safely buy Spiriva Respimat online at UK Meds. You will first need to have an online consultation with a pharmacist independent prescriber before your order will be supplied. The online consultation will ensure that Spiriva Respimat is the right medication for your medical condition.