Consumer Medicine Information (CMI) summary
The
full CMI on the next page has more details. If you are worried about using this medicine,
speak to your doctor or pharmacist.
1. Why am I using Spiriva?
Spiriva capsules contain the active ingredient tiotropium. Spiriva is used to make
breathing easier for people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
2. What should I know before I use Spiriva?
Do not use if you have ever had an allergic reaction to tiotropium, atropine, medicines
like atropine (e.g. ipratropium or oxitropium) or any of the ingredients listed at
the end of the CMI.
Talk to your doctor if you have any other medical conditions, take any other medicines,
or are pregnant or plan to become pregnant or are breastfeeding.
3. What if I am taking other medicines?
Some medicines may interfere with Spiriva and affect how it works.
4. How do I use Spiriva?
The recommended dose for adults is 1 capsule to be inhaled, once a day.
Use the HandiHaler device to inhale the powder in the capsules
Do not swallow the capsules.
5. What should I know while using Spiriva?
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Things you should do
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Remind any doctor, dentist or pharmacist you visit that you are using Spiriva.
Tell your doctor immediately if your breathing becomes more difficult while you are
taking Spiriva.
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Things you should not do
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Do not use Spiriva more frequently than once daily.
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Driving or using machines
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Be careful before you drive or use any machines or tools until you know how Spiriva
affects you.
Spiriva may cause dizziness or blurred vision in some people.
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Looking after your medicine
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Keep your capsules in a cool, dry place where the temperature stays below 25°C. Do
not store your capsules in the freezer.
Keep your capsules in the pack until it is time to take them.
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6. Are there any side effects?
All medicines can have side effects. If they do occur, they are usually minor and
temporary. Do not be alarmed by this list. You may not experience any of them.
A common side effect is dry mouth, which is usually mild.
Side effects that require urgent medical attention include allergic reaction, changes
in heart rate or palpitations and severe pain in the stomach with bloating, gut cramps
and vomiting.
Active ingredient:
tiotropium
Full Consumer Medicine Information (CMI)
This leaflet provides important information about using Spiriva capsules. You should also speak to your doctor or pharmacist if you would like further information
or if you have any concerns or questions about using Spiriva.
Where to find information in this leaflet:
1. Why am I using Spiriva?
Spiriva capsules contain the active ingredient tiotropium. It belongs to a group of medicines called anticholinergics.
Spiriva is used to make breathing easier for people with chronic obstructive pulmonary
disease (COPD).
This helps to improve your condition and to prevent exacerbations (periodic worsening
of symptoms) from occurring.
Spiriva improves breathing by relaxing the air passages that carry air to and from
the lungs. It begins to act within 30 minutes after use and the effect should last
a full day.
2. What should I know before I use Spiriva?
Warnings
Do not use Spiriva to treat a sudden attack of breathlessness, wheezing or coughing.
You will need a different type of medicine.
Do not use Spiriva if:
You are allergic to tiotropium, or any of the ingredients listed at the end of this
leaflet.
You are allergic to atropine or substances related to it, e.g. ipratropium or oxitropium.
You have been told by your doctor that you have an intolerance to some sugars, or
an allergy to milk proteins (which may be contained in small amounts in the ingredient
lactose monohydrate).
Check with your doctor if:
You have or have had any of the following medical conditions:
High pressure in the eye (glaucoma)
Kidney or liver problems
Problems with your prostate gland
Problems with passing urine.
You have suffered from a heart attack during the last 6 months or from any unstable
or life threatening irregular heart beat or severe heart failure within the past year.
During treatment, you may be at risk of developing certain side effects. It is important
you understand these risks and how to monitor for them. See additional information
under Section
6. Are there any side effects?
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, intend to become pregnant, are breastfeeding
or intend to breastfeed.
Your doctor can discuss with you the risks and benefits involved. Spiriva is not generally
recommended for use in pregnant women.
Children and adolescents
Do not give this medicine to children or adolescents (below the age of 18 years).
Eyes
Do not allow the powder to enter into the eyes. Should this occur, immediately flush
your eyes with cold tap water for several minutes and immediately consult your doctor
for further advice.
If the powder enters the eye, it may result in eye pain or discomfort, blurred vision,
seeing halos around lights or coloured images in association with red eyes (i.e. narrow
angle glaucoma).
Device
Use this medicine only with the HandiHaler® device.
3. What if I am taking other medicines?
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including any
medicines, vitamins or supplements that you buy without a prescription from your pharmacy,
supermarket or health food shop.
Some medicines and Spiriva may interfere with each other. These include:
Other anticholinergic medicines used to treat COPD, such as glycopyrronium, aclidinium,
umeclidinium or ipratropium.
You may need different amounts of your medicines, or you may need to take different
medicines.
Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure about what medicines, vitamins
or supplements you are taking and if these affect Spiriva.
4. How do I use Spiriva?
How much to use
The recommended dose for adults is 1 capsule to be inhaled, once a day.
Follow the instructions provided and use Spiriva until your doctor tells you to stop.
When to use Spiriva
Spiriva should be used at about the same time each day.
How to use Spiriva
Inhale the powder in the capsules only using the HandiHaler device.
Do not swallow the capsules.
Do not open the capsules. If you open the capsules, the small amount of powder inside may be lost, or you may
accidentally get the powder in your eyes.
Use each strip of 5 capsules within 5 days of first opening the strip.
Read the HandiHaler Instructions for Use that are supplied with the product. These
instructions are also available via the following hyperlink:
www.medsinfo.com.au/media/byispihh
Pierce the capsule only once using the HandiHaler device. If you pierce it more than once, the capsule may break and pieces of gelatin from
the capsule shell, small enough to pass the sieve, may be inhaled into your mouth
or throat. Gelatin is not harmful and small particles swallowed or inhaled will be
digested or absorbed and are not expected to cause undesirable effects.
Do not allow the powder to enter into the eyes. Should this occur, immediately flush your eyes with cold tap water for several minutes.
If you have any problems inhaling Spiriva using the HandiHaler device, ask your doctor
or pharmacist for advice.
If you forget to use Spiriva
If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the dose you missed and take your next
dose when you are meant to.
Otherwise, take it as soon as you remember, and then go back to taking your medicine
as you would normally.
Do not take a double dose to make up for the dose that you missed. This may increase the chance of you getting an unwanted side effect.
If you are not sure what to do, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
If you use too much Spiriva
If you think that you have used too much Spiriva, you may need urgent medical attention.
You should immediately:
phone the Poisons Information Centre
(by calling
13 11 26), or
contact your doctor, or
go to the Emergency Department at your nearest hospital.
You should do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning.
Symptoms of an overdose may include fast or irregular heart beat, blurred vision,
nausea, stomach pain, dry mouth, constipation and difficulty passing urine.
5. What should I know while using Spiriva?
Things you should do
Remind any doctor, dentist or pharmacist you visit that you are using Spiriva, especially
if you are about to start any new medicine or if you are going to have surgery.
Keep all of your doctor’s appointments so that your progress can be checked. Your
doctor may do some tests from time to time to make sure the medicine is working and
to prevent unwanted side effects.
It is very important to follow the HandiHaler Instructions for Use carefully.
If you are a smoker, your doctor or pharmacist can advise you on the steps to take
to quit smoking.
Tell your doctor immediately if:
You become pregnant while using Spiriva.
Your breathing becomes more difficult while you are using Spiriva.
Things you should not do
Do not use Spiriva to treat any other complaints unless your doctor tells you to.
Do not give your medicine to anyone else, even if they have the same condition as
you.
Do not use Spiriva more frequently than once daily.
Driving or using machines
Be careful before you drive or use any machines or tools until you know how Spiriva
affects you.
Spiriva may cause dizziness or blurred vision in some people. If you have any of these
symptoms, do not drive, operate machinery, or do anything else that could be dangerous.
Looking after your medicine
Refer to the HandiHaler Instructions for Use on how to clean and take care of your
HandiHaler.
Keep your capsules in the pack until it is time to take them. If you take the capsules
out of the pack they may not keep well.
Keep your capsules in a place where the temperature stays below 25°C. Do not store
your capsules in the freezer.
Store it in a cool dry place away from moisture, heat or sunlight; for example, do
not store it:
in the bathroom or near a sink, or
in the car or on window sills.
Keep it where young children cannot reach it.
Getting rid of any unwanted medicine
If you no longer need to use this medicine or it is out of date, take it to any pharmacy
for safe disposal.
Do not use this medicine after the expiry date.
6. Are there any side effects?
All medicines can have side effects. If you do experience any side effects, most of
them are minor and temporary. However, some side effects may need medical attention.
See the information below and, if you need to, ask your doctor or pharmacist if you
have any further questions about side effects.
Do not be alarmed by the following list of side effects. You may not experience any
of them.
Less serious side effects
Very serious side effects
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you notice anything else that may be making you
feel unwell.
Other side effects not listed here may occur in some people.
Reporting side effects
After you have received medical advice for any side effects you experience, you can
report side effects to the Therapeutic Goods Administration online at
www.tga.gov.au/reporting-problems . By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of
this medicine.
Always make sure you speak to your doctor or pharmacist before you decide to stop
taking any of your medicines.
7. Product details
This medicine is only available with a doctor's prescription.
What Spiriva contains
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Active ingredient
(main ingredient)
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tiotropium 18 micrograms (equivalent to tiotropium bromide monohydrate 22.5 micrograms)
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Other ingredients
(inactive ingredients)
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lactose monohydrate (which contains milk protein)
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Potential allergens
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lactose
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Do not take this medicine if you are allergic to any of these ingredients.
What Spiriva looks like
Spiriva capsules (AUST R 81525) are light green with the product code "TI 01" and
the Boehringer Ingelheim logo printed in black ink on the capsules.
Spiriva capsules contain a small amount of white powder, which means that the capsule
is only partially filled. The amount of powder in each capsule is equivalent in size
to the tip of a matchstick.
Spiriva is available in cartons containing 10*, 30 or 60* capsules and hospital packs
containing 150* or 300* capsules. Combination packs of 10, 30* and 150* capsules with
the HandiHaler device are also available.
*Not currently distributed in Australia.
The HandiHaler device is available separately from your pharmacist and should be replaced
every twelve months.
Who distributes Spiriva
Spiriva is distributed in Australia by:
Boehringer Ingelheim Pty Limited
ABN 52 000 452 308
Sydney, Australia
This leaflet was prepared in June 2021.
Spiriva® is a registered trademark of Boehringer Ingelheim
© Boehringer Ingelheim Pty Limited 2021.