{blacktriangledown}Tiotropium for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

doi:10.1136/dtb.2003.41215

Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin 2003;41:15-16; doi:10.1136/dtb.2003.41215

${blacktriangledown}$ Tiotropium for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

In 2001, we concluded that patients with symptoms of stablechronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) inadequately controlledby an 'as-required' inhaled short-acting beta₂ agonist can behelped by regular use of an inhaled antimuscarinic bronchodilatoror a long-acting beta₂ agonist.¹ Since then, a new antimuscarinicdrug ${blacktriangledown}$ tiotropium bromide (Spiriva - Pfizer/Boehringer Ingelheim)has been licensed as a once-daily bronchodilator for maintenancetreatment of COPD in people aged 18 years or over. Here, wereview the evidence for efficacy of tiotropium and discuss itsrole in the maintenance treatment of COPD.