Salmeterol vs Tiotropium
 | Salmeterol |  | Tiotropium |  |
| Salmeterol is used as a long-term (maintenance) treatment to prevent or decrease wheezing and trouble breathing caused by asthma or ongoing lung disease (e.g., COPD, emphysema). It should only be used long-term if your asthma symptoms are not controlled by your other asthma medications (such as inhaled corticosteroids). Salmeterol must not be used alone to treat asthma. (See also Warning section.) It is also used to prevent asthma brought on by exercise (bronchospasm). Salmeterol works in the airways by relaxing muscles and opening air passages to improve breathing. Controlling symptoms of breathing problems can decrease time lost from work or school. | Tiotropium is used to control and prevent symptoms (such as wheezing, shortness of breath) caused by ongoing lung disease (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease-COPD which includes bronchitis and emphysema). It works by relaxing the muscles around the airways so that they open up and you can breathe more easily. Tiotropium belongs to a class of drugs known as anticholinergics. Controlling symptoms of breathing problems can decrease time lost from work or school. This medication must be used regularly to be effective. It does not work immediately and should not be used to relieve sudden breathing problems. If wheezing or sudden shortness of breath occurs, use your quick-relief inhaler (such as albuterol, also called salbutamol in some countries) as prescribed. | |||
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Reviews
| Add Salmeterol review Now 73-y-o, I had pneumonia at 9-months old, and was told that this was the cause of me diagnosed every year till puberty, with bronchitis which led me to about 2 3-4 weeks off from school in the West of Scotland. This became greatly reduced as an adult, and although I experienced wheezing and shortness of breath at sports like running and soccer, other than that, I suffered from regular chest colds each winter. Moving to the States at 42-y-o, my chest colds were named as asthma, and at one bad time, seeing a chest specialist, x-rays told him that I was virtually working with only one lung. Then I wss put on Proventil and Albuterol which made breathin for me, much more bearable. I then went to Serevent inhaler, and nowadays to Salmeterol. Both latter inhalers work well for me and have , though at times of extra stress, an additional puff is usually sufficient. | Add Tiotropium review I have repeated problems with the mechanism that punches holes in the capsules. I lose 3 or 4 tabs per month and i have notified the manufacturer on different occasions. This problem is ongoing and i may have to find another med. although i like this product the cost of lost caplets is a real problem. I have been using spiriva for years. When i complain the company usually sends me a free pack of medication but it is still a pain and i would think that there would be a solution to this problem. I have did everything i was instructed to do but i still get a problem periodically. I don't know if it is the caps or the mechanism. | |||
