Excess mucus since taking Spiriva

[S-G-]

Hi All

For about a month now I have been taking Spiriva respimat 2.5mcg, one puff in the mornings.

Since taking this I have noticed I've had a cough along with coughing up brownish coloured mucus pretty much every day.

Along with the Spiriva I am also taking, Symbicort 200/6 and taking two puffs in the morning and two puffs at night.

Is it normal to be constantly coughing and bringing up brown mucus since taking Spiriva as this has never happened with any other medications for my asthma?

Does anyone else experience this?

[Poobah]

You should always have a review after 4 to 6 weeks after starting a new medication to ensure it's doing its job or not.

It could be a coincidence or Spiriva may not suit you. Go back to the Dr or asthma nurse to discuss what's happening. Spiriva should give you all day relief from asthma symptoms.

Spiriva didn't suit me - gave me high blood pressure and made me feel very poorly, my breathing got very bad. We're all different and sometimes medications just don't suit us.

Did you need extra help with your asthma as the Symbicourt wasn't keeping you well? You could explore a different combination inhaler in case that works before taking any further medication.

But if you do need a LAMA inhaler (Spiriva) then there are others to try. I get on well with Eklira Genuair, but that's just me. Trial and error should find what suits you.

Good luck.

[S-G- in reply to Poobah]

My review is coming up at the end of the month so I'll be able to see what they say about it but overall it's much better managed than it was previously.

Well side effect wise I only really noticed dizziness and generally feeling lightheaded but that passed after about a week apparently can be normal and I've felt fine since.

It's just the constant need to cough and bringing up mucus especially in the mornings & evenings since taking it that is strange, but I do feel better having it. It's a productive cough so I was thinking that's just what Spiriva does, was looking to see if anyone else had this happen.

Yeah Symbicort wasnt helping as I get out of breath quite fast if I'm doing anything active throughout the day, even just getting up the stairs or for a short walk I was getting short of breath!

May try as you said and switch up inhalers, we'll see what the docs say.

[Poobah in reply to S-G-]

I've just come off Symbicourt and trying Fostair - early days. I found Symbicourt didn't control my symptoms and definitely not if I exercised.

Spiriva didn't make me cough and it's not supposed to. Brown phlegm needs attention though. Maybe a coincidence.

Good luck with your review.

[emmasue]

I am on Spiriva as well as Fostair. I don't notice excess mucus, but I do get it. You could have an infection. It might be worth seeing the GP. Good luck.

[mackro]

In my last flare-up about 2 years ago my GP also put me on Spriva in addition to Symbicort. It did not help. However things started to improve significantly when the same GP put on SR neulin in the morning and montelucast at night. My asthma is under controlled even though I have some light coughs and mucus now and then.

[Nanny1086]

You could have a chest infection going on ,,,that’s what it seems to me anyway, my mucus is usually non,,,but goes green/ brown when I’ve got an infection , see your asthma nurse and send in a mucus sample to be lab tested , good luck ,