Atrovent vs. Spiriva HandiHaler

• Are Atrovent and Spiriva HandiHaler the Same Thing?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Atrovent?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Spiriva HandiHaler?
• What Is Atrovent?
• What Is Spiriva HandiHaler?
• What Drugs Interact with Atrovent?
• What Drugs Interact with Spiriva HandiHaler?
• How Should Atrovent Be Taken?
• How Should Spiriva HandiHaler Be Taken?

Atrovent HFA (ipratropium bromide HFA) and Spiriva HandiHaler (tiotropium bromide) are anticholinergic bronchodilators used for maintenance and treatment of bronchospasm associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), including chronic bronchitis, and emphysema.

Side effects of Atrovent HFA and Spiriva HandiHaler that are similar include dry mouth, cold symptoms (stuffy nose, sneezing, sore throat), upset stomach, or constipation.

Side effects of Atrovent HFA that are different from Spiriva HandiHaler include headache, hoarseness, cough, sinus pain, nausea, back pain, fever, chills, body aches, flu symptoms, blurred vision, and dizziness.

Side effects of Spiriva HandiHaler that are different from Atrovent HFA include vomiting, nosebleed, or muscle pain.

Both Atrovent HFA and Spiriva HandiHaler may interact with other bronchodilators, medications to treat excess stomach acid, or medications to treat stomach ulcer, motion sickness, or irritable bowel syndrome.

Common side effects of Atrovent include:

• headache
• dry mouth
• hoarseness
• cough
• stuffy nose
• sinus pain
• nausea
• upset stomach
• constipation
• back pain
• fever
• chills
• body aches
• flu symptoms
• blurred vision, and
• dizziness

Tell your doctor if you experience serious side effects of Atrovent HFA including bronchospasm (wheezing, chest tightness, trouble breathing), eye pain, seeing halos around lights, pain or burning when you urinate, urinating less than usual or not at all, or worsening of your symptoms.

Common side effects of Spiriva HandiHaler include:

• dry mouth,
• constipation,
• upset stomach,
• vomiting,
• cold symptoms (stuffy nose, sneezing, sore throat),
• nosebleed, or
• muscle pain.

Tell your doctor if you have any serious side effects of Spiriva HandiHaler including:

• difficult or painful urination, or
• fast heartbeat.

Atrovent HFA (ipratropium bromide HFA) is an anticholinergic bronchodilator, packaged in an inhaler, used for maintenance and treatment of bronchospasm associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), including chronic bronchitis, and emphysema. Atrovent HFA is available as a generic termed ipratropium bromide.

Spiriva HandiHaler (tiotropium bromide) Inhalation Powder is an anticholinergic drug used to prevent bronchospasm (narrowing of the airways in the lungs) in people with bronchitis, emphysema, or COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease).

Atrovent HFA may interact with other bronchodilators. Atrovent HFA may also interact with bladder or urinary medicines, cold or allergy medicines that contain an antihistamine, medications for Parkinson's disease, or medications to treat excess stomach acid, stomach ulcer, motion sickness, or irritable bowel syndrome.

Spiriva may interact with atropine, belladonna, cimetidine, clidinium, dicyclomine, glycopyrrolate, hyoscyamine, mepenzolate, methantheline, methscopolamine, propantheline, or scopolamine. Tell your doctor all medications you use. During pregnancy, Spiriva should be used only when prescribed. It is unknown if this medication passes into breast milk. Consult your doctor before breastfeeding.

The usual starting dose of ATROVENT HFA is two inhalations four times a day. Patients may take additional inhalations as required; however, the total number of inhalations should not exceed 12 in 24 hours.

The recommended dose of Spiriva HandiHaler is two inhalations of the powder contents of one Spiriva capsule, once-daily, with the HandiHaler device.