title: [Tiotropium. A new anti-cholinergic agent for treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease].
abstract: Tiotropium is a new anti-cholinergic drug with a long duration of action designed for maintenance treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Tiotropium is the first drug specifically developed for the treatment of COPD, but it is also amongst the most expensive drugs used for this condition. The clinical pharmacology of tiotropium and results from published controlled clinical trials are reviewed. It is concluded that tiotropium seems suitable as a symptomatic treatment for patients with moderate to severe COPD (typically a forced expiratorical volume FEV1 < 50% of the predicted volume), who despite optimal use of short acting bronchodilators still suffer from severe symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Lungemedicinsk Klinik, H:S Hvidovre Hospital, DK-2650 Hvidovre.
authors.forename: Steffen Thirstrup
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Pedersen
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lange
mesh_terms: D018680:Cholinergic Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000191:economics / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006801:Humans; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011788:Quality of Life; D012602:Scopolamine Derivatives / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000191:economics / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D000069447:Tiotropium Bromide
chemical_list: D018680:Cholinergic Antagonists; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D012602:Scopolamine Derivatives; D000069447:Tiotropium Bromide