Safety, tolerability and risk benefit analysis of tiotropium in COPD.
COPD is a chronic disease and, like many other chronic diseases, there is no treatment to reverse the severity of the disease except for lung transplant. To date, no inhaled medications have been shown to improve survival. Tiotropium bromide is a long-acting inhaled anticholinergic drug for the treatment of COPD that can improve lung function, reduce symptoms and exacerbations, and improve quality of life with once-daily dosing. It was initially approved and marketed in several countries in Europe in 2002 and then approved in the US in 2004. Tiotropium is generally well tolerated with dry mouth being the main adverse effect. Other adverse effects include constipation, tachycardia, blurred vision, urinary retention and increased intraocular pressure. Despite the recently raised concerns about an excess risk of cardiovascular adverse events with inhaled anticholinergic agents, the risk/benefit ratio of tiotropium appears still favorable given the favorable safety profile demonstrated in the UPLIFT study. However, caution should be advised in patients at high risk for cardiovascular disease given the paucity of data in such patients.
Oba
Yuji
Y
University of Missouri, School of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Environmental Medicine, Columbia, MO 65212, USA. obay@health.missouri.edu
Zaza
Tareq
T
Thameem
Danish M
DM
D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D018680:Cholinergic Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D055118:Medication Adherence; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011788:Quality of Life; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012602:Scopolamine Derivatives / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000069447:Tiotropium Bromide; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D001993:Bronchodilator Agents; D018680:Cholinergic Antagonists; D012602:Scopolamine Derivatives; D000069447:Tiotropium Bromide