Buy Spiriva Online without prescription
- Medication for those with severe asthma and COPD
Spiriva® 18 mcg.
(With 1 Handihaler inhalation device)
Tiotropium Bromide (Spiriva)
Tiotropium is a promising new medication for those with
severe asthma and COPD. It is similar in action to Atrovent
(ipratropium bromide) and classified as an anticholinergic medication with
extended action up to 36 hours.
Like Atrovent , tiotropium works from an opposite
direction to provide bronchodilation than do Rescue Medications such as
albuterol. Tiotropium acts on the parasympathetic nervous system as
opposed to the sympathetic. Anticholinergics inhibit muscarinic or "M"
receptors. Tiotropium specifically targets M3 and to a lesser extent M1
receptors. These two receptors are important in bronchoconstriction and
mucus production especially the M3 receptor.
Tiotropium Bromide (Spiriva®)
Tiotropium is a promising new medication for those with
severe asthma and COPD. It is similar in action to Atrovent® (ipratropium
bromide) and classified as an anticholinergic medication with extended
action up to 36 hours.
Like Atrovent®, tiotropium works from an opposite direction to provide
bronchodilation than do Rescue Medications such as albuterol. Tiotropium
acts on the parasympathetic nervous system as opposed to the sympathetic.
Anticholinergics inhibit muscarinic or "M" receptors. Tiotropium
specifically targets M3 and to a lesser extent M1 receptors. These two
receptors are important in bronchoconstriction and mucus production
especially the M3 receptor.
Many COPD patients, as well as severe asthmatics, have a reduced
effectiveness with beta2 agonists such as albuterol. Being able to
stimulate some bronchodilatation through blocking the actions of the M1
and M3 receptors allows for better symptom control. Medications such as
Combivent® already take advantage for this by combining albuterol and
ipratropium. A drawback to ipratropium is its shorter length of action,
though longer than albuterol. Ipratropium also inhibits the M2 receptor
which may increase acetylcholine release and stimulate
bronchoconstriction.
A possible benefit from using tiotropium is an apparent reduction in side
effects over ipratropium. This is probably due to it's reduced action on
the M2 receptor. Some of the common side effects of ipratropium are
nervousness, dizziness, headache, nausea, upset stomach, dry mouth, throat
irritation, and cough.
Another important advantage of tiotropium over ipratropium is length of
action. One study saw a three day length of action. General consensus for
length of action is around 36 hours, making tiotropium an excellent
candidate for a daily long acting medication. Daily medications are seen
as an effective way of increasing compliance among patients in taking
their medications.
Spiriva® has been approved by the Medicinal Evaluation Board in Den Haag,
Netherlands. Spiriva’s approved indication is for the maintenance
treatment of patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease - COPD.
The active substance is tiotropium bromide, which is a new chemical
entity, structurally related to ipratropium bromide (Atrovent ®).
Tiotropium is a long-acting inhaled antimuscarinic bronchodilator.
The capsules are to be administered (once daily) with the HandiHaler®
inhalation device that enables extraction of the dose from the capsules
and dispersion of the drug substance in the inhalation airstream of the
patient.
SPIRIVA® (Tiotropium) introduced in first countries
3 June 2002
Ingelheim, Germany, June 3, 2002 -- Boehringer Ingelheim
and Pfizer Inc announced today that SPIRIVA® (tiotropium), the first
once-daily inhaled COPD therapy, has been introduced in the Netherlands
and Philippines. Further launches are expected in Germany, Sweden, Denmark
and Finland later this month.
Approved as a bronchodilator for the maintenance treatment of chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), SPIRIVA® was discovered and
developed by Boehringer Ingelheim. SPIRIVA®, a novel compound that works
through prolonged M3-receptor blockade, will be globally co-promoted with
Pfizer.
Clinical trial data demonstrate that maintenance treatment with SPIRIVA®
is superior to ATROVENT® (ipratropium bromide), a commonly used treatment
for many COPD patients. Data included in the European label also
demonstrate that SPIRIVA® provides a significant improvement in
breathlessness or dyspnea, the most frequent and disabling symptom of
COPD.
"We are very happy that we can now offer COPD patients in the first
countries an efficacious and very well tolerated drug. In accordance with
registrations received from individual health authorities and with our
partner Pfizer Inc. we will introduce SPIRIVA® worldwide over the next few
years,“ said Prof. Rolf Krebs, Chairman of the Board of Managing Directors
of Boehringer Ingelheim.
COPD is a slowly progressive airway disease that causes significant
deterioration of lung function and consequently, disability and death.
Smoking is the leading cause of COPD, but exposure to pollution is another
known risk factor. While it is less well known than asthma, COPD is far
more prevalent. According to the World Health Organization, about 600
million people suffer from COPD, although many are undiagnosed. Estimates
are that by 2020, COPD will be the world’s third leading cause of death.
“SPIRIVA® fills a significant unmet medical need as effective new
treatments are essential to manage the significant growth of patients with
this disabling medical condition,” said Dr. Joseph Feczko, Senior Vice
President Medical and Regulatory Operations, Pfizer Pharmaceuticals.
COPD is characterized by a reduction of airflow from the lungs and an
increase in air trapped inside the lungs. As more air is trapped in the
lungs, air exchange becomes progressively more limited. A primary goal in
treating COPD patients is to increase airflow and, consequently, improve
their ability to participate in daily activities.
Tiotropium will be marketed under the name SPIRIVA® in a worldwide
co-promotion between Boehringer Ingelheim and Pfizer Inc. In April 2002,
SPIRIVA® was approved under the European Mutual Recognition Procedure as
being indicated as bronchodilator for the maintenance treatment of COPD.
It also has been approved in a number of non-European countries. A New
Drug Application for SPIRIVA®was submitted to the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration in December 2001. Additional applications are pending
worldwide.
In long term studies of SPIRIVA®, the most frequently reported adverse
reaction was dry mouth (14%). Dry mouth was usually mild and often
resolved with continued treatment. Common adverse reactions were
constipation, moniliasis, sinusitis, and pharyngitis, occurring with
frequencies within 1% and 2% of placebo. SPIRIVA®, as once daily
maintenance therapy for COPD should not be used for the initial treatment
of acute episodes of bronchospasm.
The Boehringer Ingelheim group of companies, headquartered in Ingelheim,
Germany is one of the 20 leading pharmaceutical corporations in the world.
In 2001, it posted revenues of EUR 6.7 billion.
Boehringer Ingelheim, which has some 140 affiliated companies in 42
countries worldwide, focuses on human pharmaceuticals and animal health.
The human pharmaceuticals business, which accounts for 95% of sales, is
comprised of prescription medicines, consumer healthcare products and
chemicals and biopharmaceuticals for industrial customers. Research and
development, production and distribution facilities are located around the
globe. In 2001, Boehringer Ingelheim spent more than EUR 1 billion on R&D,
which is almost a fifth of Prescription Medicines net sales.
Pfizer Inc discovers, develops, manufactures and markets leading
prescription medicines for humans and animals, and many of the world’s
best-known consumer products.
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