title: Tiotropium bromide: a long-acting anticholinergic bronchodilator for the treatment of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
abstract: Prevention and relief of symptoms by regular use of bronchodilators is central to the management of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The bronchodilators in use are beta2-agonists, anticholinergics and theophylline. Since the 1970s the anticholinergic ipratropium bromide has been widely used for the treatment of patients with regular symptoms, but because it has a relatively short duration of action, it needs to be administered four times a day. Tiotropium bromide is a long-acting anticholinergic suitable for once daily administration. It has been developed as a dry powder inhaler for the treatment of patients with COPD. Large clinical trials with administration of the drug for one year have now been published. Compared with placebo and ipratopium bromide, significant and long-lasting bronchodilatation was observed, which was maintained over the year. The bronchodilator effect of tiotropium bromide was accompanied by improvements in other health outcomes. A significant decrease in dyspnoea, improvement in health-related quality of life, and a reduction in the number of COPD exacerbations and hospitalisations were noted. In this review we summarise the clinical development of this compound.
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Diseases, Ghent University Hospital, Belgium.
authors.forename: G F
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Joos
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Brusselle
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Derom
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pauwels
mesh_terms: D001993:Bronchodilator Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D010366:Peak Expiratory Flow Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012307:Risk Factors; D012602:Scopolamine Derivatives / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D000069447:Tiotropium Bromide; D014797:Vital Capacity / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D001993:Bronchodilator Agents; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D012602:Scopolamine Derivatives; D000069447:Tiotropium Bromide