SPIRIVA RESPIMAT inhaler

[Julesc12]

Hi Guys and Girls

Anyone on the inhaler Spiriva Respimat . ? My consultant has put me on it to use once a day with my fostair inhaler . It’s to help with preventing chest infection recurring. I have googled it and in the USA there is allot about can increase death or heart attacks by up to 52% . My consultant never said anything about risks of heart attacks but it is google . Any advice appreciated thank you 🙏 Jules

[Lysistrata Administrator Community Ambassador]

Quite a few of us are on Spiriva here and liking it (including me).

This is very much one where you don't want to just google as it's nuanced. I've just had a look at some of the research (my job involves me knowing my way round medical research, though I'm not a healthcare professional and can't advise anyone on what they should or shouldn't take).

It seems for *some* patients who take Spiriva for COPD, who are also aged 55+. there is a higher risk of heart disease with Spiriva (it's also slightly higher in people who have never smoked who have COPD and take Spiriva).

The risk seems to be about 24% higher compared to other groups of people with COPD, not 52% - and bear in mind that's *not* a 24% chance of aged 55+ people with COPD having heart disease with Spiriva. It's a 24% *increase* in the risk.

So if for example the risk of heart disease was about 10% for older people with COPD who don't take Spiriva, it would be about 12% risk of heart disease in older people with COPD who do take Spiriva. (Those are not necessarily the right numbers but just as an example).

If you have COPD and are older, or already have heart problems, then it's one to discuss with your doctor to see if it's best for you. But as with any medication, you have to weigh up the risks and benefits. Poorly controlled asthma is not good for you or your heart either and the aim is to get asthma as well controlled as possible since that's generally safest - though it can take some trial and error with medications.

If you are younger and you're taking it for asthma and have no heart problems, then it's likely that the benefits to you and your asthma are much greater than the risks. If you're concerned though, can you contact your consultant or the hospital asthma nurse to ask? You could also ring the asthma nurses on 0300 2225800 or WhatsApp on 07999 377 775 Monday-Friday 0915-5pm to chat it through.

[Julesc12 in reply to Lysistrata]

Thank you for that information and detailed analysis of it . It’s much appreciated, i’m Asthmatic and age 60 but have no heart condition. It’s just scary reading that . my situation is i get a chest infection 2 times a year and have antibiotics and steroids but the rest of the year i’m good so i don’t know which is best , taking the steroids and antibiotics twice a year or having an inhaler which is long term every day and increases the risk of heard attacks 🤷‍♂️😫

[Lysistrata Administrator Community Ambassador in reply to Julesc12]

I would give the asthma nurses a call on the number above and chat it through. They can't prescribe or give you direct medical advice, but they can discuss what your options are and how to approach this with your consultant and/or GP if you're concerned.

[Julesc12 in reply to Lysistrata]

Thank you i did do and usually there very good but on this occasion they wouldn’t commit and said speak to your doctor

[janedivney]

I’m on spiriva respimat and think it’s great. I never google stuff like that, I rely on reputable websites and the patient info leaflet. There are some drugs, eg prednisone, itraconazole, we’d never take if we listened to dr google, but they’re so useful

[Julesc12 in reply to janedivney]

Thank you 🙏

[Evie751029]

Thank god for Breztri Aerosphere. Sorry. Wouldn’t touch it with a 40 foot pole. It’s top side effect is sinus infections which I ain’t allowed to get due sinus disruption during major brain surgery. Switched to the Breztri which has a similar class of drug as Spiriva. Basically symbicort with the add on. Not a problem since

[Homely2 Administrator]

Personally I love spiriva. I was being regularly hospitalised pre taking it, I have not now gone to hospital for over a year. It just seems to sit in the background, calming my system down.

For all meds there are risks, but having uncontrolled Asthma for me is a bigger risk.

[Julesc12 in reply to Homely2]

That’s reassuring thank you

[Scrofulous]

Hi. My mum was on it for years for her COPD with no issues.

[Julesc12 in reply to Scrofulous]

Thank you 🙏

[SuziElley]

I’m on Spiriva,have a heart condition and severe asthma. I used to smoke but stopped in 1999. All I can say is, I feel quite a bit better than before taking it, although still get sob due to long Covid. Uncle Google could make us all too afraid to take anything if we went by all he has to say 😉

[Julesc12]

thanks Suzi , yes that Google 😫