spiriva inhaler

anybody know about spiriva inhaler and what it's used for? enquiring for a friend who has asthma

thank you

christina

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Hi Christina

I take Spiriva and have done for some time now. It contains the active ingredient tiotropium, which is a type of medicine known as an antimuscarinic or anticholinergic bronchodilator. It works by opening the airways to make it easier to breathe.

Tiotropium works in the lungs, where it blocks receptors called muscarinic receptors that are found on the muscle surrounding the airways. A natural chemical called acetylcholine normally acts on these receptors, causing the muscle in the airways to contract and the airways to narrow.

In chronic obstructive lung diseases (COPD), such as asthma, the airways can become very narrowed, and this makes breathing in and out difficult. Tiotropium blocks the muscarinc receptors in the lungs and therefore stops the action of acetylcholine on them. This allows the muscle around the airways to relax and the airways to open. This makes it easier for people with asthma to breathe.

It should be used regularly each day to keep the airways open and help prevent breathing difficulties. The medicine works over 24 hours so it is best to always take it at the same time of day.