The reason the Spiriva inhaler is so expensive is because of the patents which created a lack of competition in the inhaler space that allowed for large price increases and also because the patents granted the manufactures of Spiriva market exclusive rights on their product and prevented any affordable generic alternative medications being made.
Medicare does pay for Spiriva as 66 percent of Medicare prescription drug plans cover Spiriva.
The cheaper alternative for Spiriva Respimat is Advair Diskus and Xolair.
The inhaler that can replace Spiriva is Symbicort as well as Ventolin HFA, ProAir HFA, Breztri Aerosphere, Albuterol / Ipratropium and Combivent.
Spiriva is better than Albuterol as Spiriva has a rating of 5.7 while Abuterol has a rating of 3.2.
Spiriva is better than Symbicort for COPD.
Spiriva reduces the chances of a flare up or worsening of COPD better than Symbicort.
There are 2 types of short-acting bronchodilator inhaler: beta-2 agonist inhalers – such as salbutamol and terbutaline.
The best inhaler for stage 3 COPD is Xopenex (Levalbuterol) as well as Advair, Albuterol and Combivent Respimat.
The drug that should be avoided in patients with COPD are long acting beta agonists medications such as ipratropium.
Also COPD patients should avoid drugs such as prednisone and steroids.
The two most prescribed drug medications for COPD are Fluticasone (Flovent) and Budesonide (Pulmicort).
Another most commonly prescribed drug for COPD is Predisolone which comes in a shot, liquid or even pill form.
The drug that is triple therapy for COPD is budesonide/glycopyrrolate/formoterol fumarate that has co suspension delivery technology versus dual therapies.
The strongest medication for COPD is roflumilast (Daliresp) which is a phosphodiesterase-4 inhibitor.
The medication roflumilast decreases the airway inflammation and relaxes your airways.
Common side effects of roflumilast are weight loss and diarrhea.
The 3 medication inhaler for COPD is BREZTRI which is a 3 n 1 medicine and inhaler for COPD which combines 3 medicines which are an inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) medicine (budesonide), an anticholinergic medicine (glycopyrrolate), and a long acting beta2-adrenergic agonist (LABA) medicine (formoterol fumarate) in one inhaler.
Another inhaler medication for COPD is Tudorza.
The side effects of Tudorza are eye pain or eye redness, seeing halos or bright colors around lights, vomiting, nausea, blurred vision, difficult or painful urination, little or even no urination, or no improvement or worsening of your symptoms.
The indication of Tudorza is for the long term treatment of COPD and bronchospasm associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease which also includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis.
Tudorza inhaler is an anticholinergic inhaler that treats COPD by relaxing the muscles in the airways which opens the airways and makes it easier to breathe.
The cost of Tudorza is $337.00 for a supply of one Inhaler.
Tudorza should be taken as often as 2 times a day which is in the morning and in the evening by taking Tudorza 12 hours apart.
Tudorza is a long term bronchodilator treatment for people with COPD which includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis.
Tudorza is not a rescue inhaler and should not be used for treating sudden breathing problems.
Tudorza is for the long term treatment of COPD but you may also have a rescue inhaler prescribed that you should use for sudden breathing problems instead.
The active ingredient in Tudorza is a drug called aclidinium bromide.
Tudorza is not the same as Spiriva although they both contain anticholinergics.
However Spiriva contains the active drug called tiotropium bromide and Tudorza contains the active drug called aclidinium bromide.
Another name for Tudorza is aclidinium bromide.
Tudorza is an inhalation powder that is an anticholinergic that is for the long term treatment of COPD and bronchospasm associated with COPD which also includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis.
The class of drug that Tudorza is, is anticholinergics and contains the active drug called aclidinium.
Tudorza is not a steroid inhaler and instead is a long-acting muscarinic antagonist (LAMA) which works by relaxing the muscles around the airways in the lungs to help you breathe easier.
Tudorza inhaler is used for treating COPD also known as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in adults.
COPD is a lung condition that gets worse over time such as chronic bronchitis and emphysema.
Tudorza Pressair (aclidinium) is not a steroid.
Tudorza is a long-acting muscarinic antagonist (LAMA) and it works by relaxing the muscles around the airways in the lungs to help you breathe easier.
Someone should go to the hospital with COPD if they experience or have trouble breathing at rest or they have trouble breathing or have any chest pain or are feeling confused or more sleepy than normal and if any rescue inhaler medications are not working.
The most common cause of death in COPD is respiratory failure.
With COPD you can usually walk 1 mile to 2 miles a day although some people with more severe COPD may only be ale to walk 1/2 mile or so.
Walking is good for you and can help improve your lung function when you have COPD and other lung issues.
COPD is not a terminal illness like cancer is as most people with treatment can live long lives with COPD although in some cases people with more severe COPD may die sooner than others.
Still COPD can cause death especially if not treated so it can be a terminal illness.
The 3 treatments for COPD are COPD medications, Pulmonary Rehabilitation and Noninvasive Ventilation.
Endobronchial Valve therapy and supplemental oxygen are other treatments for COPD as well as inhaler medications that can be used to treat COPD and improve breathing.
The average COPD patient lives for 10 years to 20 years although some may live a bit longer or shorter depending on their age and current overall health.
The way COPD progresses to death is over time your body is less able to take in the required amount of oxygen which then leads to death as you need enough oxygen to survive.
The final stages of COPD before death are weight loss, fast resting heartbeat, irregular heartbeat, delirium, being out of breath for a very long time, constant wheezing, barrel chest and crackling sound as you start to breathe in.
The signs that COPD is getting worse are your oxygen level drops constantly or drops below 88 percent, you feel short of breath suddenly, your cough gets worse, and you may cough of phlegm which can be thicker than normal or another unusual color.
A normal oxygen level for someone with COPD is between 88% to 92%.
Oxygen levels below 88% are considered dangerous and you should seek medical attention if the oxygen level drops below 88 percent.
People with COPD tend to live 8 years to 9 years after diagnoses with COPD.
However some people may live 10 to 20 years with COPD as long as they manage the COPD and depending on their age.
The early warning signs of COPD are shortness of breath, wheezing or chest tightness, cough that can bring up sputum also known as phlegm or mucus, fatigue or tiredness and reoccurring lung infections such as acute bronchitis or pneumonia.
The 4 stage of COPD are.
Stage I (early)
Stage II (Moderate)
Stage III (Severe)
Stage IV (Very Severe)
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, refers to a group of diseases that cause airflow blockage and breathing-related problems.
It includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis.
COPD makes your breathing difficult for the 16 million Americans who have this disease.