Spiriva vs Symbicort
 | Spiriva |  | Symbicort |  |
| 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. | This product is used to control and prevent symptoms (wheezing and shortness of breath) caused by asthma or ongoing lung disease (such as COPD). It contains 2 medications: budesonide and formoterol. Budesonide belongs to a class of drugs known as corticosteroids. It works by reducing the irritation and swelling of the airways. Formoterol belongs to the class of drugs known as long-acting beta agonists. It works by opening airways in the lungs to make breathing easier. 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 asthma attacks. If an asthma attack occurs, use your quick-relief inhaler (such as albuterol, also called salbutamol in some countries) as prescribed. | |||
Alternatives
Reviews
| Add Spiriva review I was on a program of: 1. ProAir for emergency 2. Evening and morning: QVar 3. Between evening and morning: Atrovent. Kaiser Removed Atrovent and put me on Spiriva. I am begging them to put me back onto Atrovent because I was doing 100% better. I now learn that Atrovent increases length of life of COPD Victims. Spiriva is just not good. I have changed Insurance plans because of Kaiser's refusal to put me back onto the original program I was on. Spiriva is that bad and ineffective. To many of the capsules are empty. With the cost of this med. you should have a better way to QC your product. I depend on it to help my breathing and it lets me down far to often. Please take this into consideration and help those of us who depend on it for a good quality of life. | Add Symbicort review I have been an asthmatic for 40 years. I have been on every medication you can imagine. The last inhaler that I was using was Advair. I noticed that I was using my rescue inhaler every night due to shortness of breath even though I was taking the Advair regularly. My Doctor switched me to Symbicort 160/4.5 four months ago. I was feeling really weird when I took 2 puffs twice a day. I felt that it was too strong. I started to take one puff in the morning with a spacer. I noticed that one puff was all that I needed. All that I can say is that "Symbicort has changed my life" I have not used my rescue inhaler in months. Sometimes I forget to carry it with me. I am exercising, walking, and running up steps without getting shortness of breath. I joined a gym and I am on the elliptical for 30 minutes without any problems. I use the exercise bike too. My next venture is to take an exercise class. I am a 55 year old woman. I am feeling vibrant and not afraid of life because I use to let my asthma control everything that I wanted to do. I haven't felt this good in many years. I've been using Symbicort for 4 years and have had good results. Before I was taking it, I had bad nocturnal asthma and was waking up to use my rescue inhaler all the time. I was also using my rescue inhaler during the day. I had to stop running because I couldn't breathe. When I started using Symbicort (and Singulair), I stopped waking up at night and didn't have problems during the day. I was able to start running again. I haven't had any noticeable side-effects from it. concerned about weight gain. Breathing is fine I didn't know I had asthma till the doctor ordered a pulmonary breathing test. It worked quickly and effectively however it makes me dizzy and tired after use, has also ocassionaly caused headaches or migraines. i recommend not driving after using symbicort if you get the same problems. | |||
