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COPD Information

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What is COPD?

COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) is a term used to describe a disease that interferes with normal breathing and gets worse slowly over time. COPD includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Often, people have both.

With chronic bronchitis, your airways become swollen and tight, making it hard for air to move in or out of your lungs. More mucus may form in your airways, making it even more difficult to breathe.

You may notice yourself clearing your throat repeatedly, or you may feel like you have a respiratory infection, except the symptoms do not go away.

With emphysema, the walls of the tiny air sacs in your lungs are damaged, so they can't push all the used air out of your lungs. This air remains trapped, so there's less room for fresh, oxygen-rich air to enter. People do not get enough oxygen and do not remove as much carbon dioxide from their blood. You may notice that you have a hard time exhaling, and that you have limited energy.

What COPD isn't

There are lots of misconceptions about COPD, like the ones below. Don't let them keep you from taking the appropriate steps toward managing it. To learn the real story, click the links below.

"COPD is really just 'smoker's cough.' It will go away when I quit smoking."
What's the real story? >

WHAT'S THE REAL STORY? It's true that smoking is the most common cause of COPD. Quitting smoking is still the best thing you can do to slow the progression of COPD and improve your health. Unfortunately, quitting won't undo the damage that's already been done.

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"COPD isn't serious. My symptoms are not severe, so I don't need daily medicine."
What's the real story? >

WHAT'S THE REAL STORY? Even if your symptoms are not severe, there are still things you can do to keep breathing better — like using a maintenance medicine every day to help keep your airways open. If you wait to start treatment until your symptoms get worse, your COPD may be more difficult to manage.

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"People with COPD can't live normal lives."
What's the real story? >

WHAT'S THE REAL STORY? One of the goals of managing your COPD should be to stay as healthy and active as possible, for as long as possible. A combination of smoking cessation, medication, exercise, and other lifestyle changes can help you do just that.

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COPD can be managed

It's important to understand that while there's currently no cure for COPD, it can be managed. A combination of smoking cessation, medication, exercise, and other lifestyle changes can help manage your COPD. Your primary care doctor will most likely refer you to a pulmonologist, who is a specialist who treats lung and respiratory tract disorders.

It's important to get an accurate diagnosis. The sooner you start managing COPD, the sooner you may start breathing better. It all starts with knowing the symptoms of COPD.

Share this page

If you have a friend or a loved one who's having breathing difficulties, you may want to share this information with them so they can learn more about COPD.

What you'll send them is a direct link to this page. Your name will be included so that your friend or loved one will know who sent this email to them. To make sure they receive this, you'll need to fill out all of the fields below.

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The names and email addresses provided will be used solely to send the link to your friend. This information will not be stored or used for any other purpose than to transmit this message.

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Wait it out

If you're still smoking and have the urge to light up, try waiting 10 minutes. Your craving may pass in that time.

Let it out

With COPD, you may feel as if you can't exhale all the air from your lungs. A technique called pursed-lip breathing can help. Learn more about COPD breathing exercises >

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION (please scroll)

Do not use Spiriva® HandiHaler® (tiotropium bromide inhalation powder) if you are allergic to tiotropium or ipratropium (e.g., Atrovent®) or any of the ingredients in SPIRIVA. If your breathing suddenly worsens, your face, throat, lips, or tongue swells, you get hives, itching or rash, stop taking SPIRIVA and seek immediate medical help.

SPIRIVA HandiHaler is not a rescue medicine and should not be used for treating sudden breathing problems.

Do not swallow SPIRIVA capsules. The contents of the capsule should only be inhaled through your mouth using the HandiHaler device.

If you have vision changes or eye pain or if you have difficulty passing urine or painful urination, stop taking SPIRIVA and call your doctor right away.

Tell your doctor if you have glaucoma, problems passing urine or an enlarged prostate, as these may worsen with SPIRIVA. Tell your doctor if you have kidney problems or are allergic to milk proteins. Ask your doctor if you are not sure. Also discuss with your doctor all the medicines you take, including eye drops.

The most common side effect with SPIRIVA is dry mouth. Others include constipation and trouble passing urine. For a complete list of reported side effects, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Do not let the powder from the SPIRIVA capsule get into your eyes.

Dizziness and blurred vision may occur with SPIRIVA. Should you experience these symptoms, you should use caution when engaging in activities such as driving a car or operating appliances or other machines.

Read the Patient Information and the step-by-step Instructions for Use for SPIRIVA before you use your inhaler.

INDICATION

SPIRIVA® HandiHaler® (tiotropium bromide inhalation powder) is a prescription medicine used once each day (a maintenance medicine) to control symptoms of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) by relaxing your airways and keeping them open. COPD includes chronic bronchitis, emphysema, or both.

SPIRIVA HandiHaler also reduces the likelihood of flare-ups and worsening of COPD symptoms (COPD exacerbations).

The information provided on this site is for general information and educational purposes only. You should always consult a doctor for diagnosing and treating a health or fitness problem, and before using any drug product discussed on this site.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

Click here for full Prescribing Information and Instructions for Use.

DISCLAIMER

The tips contained on this site convey general information and are not intended to be, nor should they be used as, a replacement for the advice of a licensed physician. Your doctor knows your specific condition. As with all things medical, you should talk to your doctor before you start any treatment, exercise, diet, or other lifestyle change.

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This information is for U.S. residents only. Products discussed herein may have different labeling in different countries.
Copyright © 2012, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc. All rights reserved. Use of this site is subject to the Internet Site Legal Notices and Disclaimers and Privacy Policy. Date 01/12

*According to IMS NPA Market Dynamics, May 2011.
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IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION (please scroll)

Do not use Spiriva® HandiHaler® (tiotropium bromide inhalation powder) if you are allergic to tiotropium or ipratropium (e.g., Atrovent®) or any of the ingredients in SPIRIVA. If your breathing suddenly worsens, your face, throat, lips, or tongue swells, you get hives, itching or rash, stop taking SPIRIVA and seek immediate medical help.

SPIRIVA HandiHaler is not a rescue medicine and should not be used for treating sudden breathing problems.

Do not swallow SPIRIVA capsules. The contents of the capsule should only be inhaled through your mouth using the HandiHaler device.

If you have vision changes or eye pain or if you have difficulty passing urine or painful urination, stop taking SPIRIVA and call your doctor right away.

Tell your doctor if you have glaucoma, problems passing urine or an enlarged prostate, as these may worsen with SPIRIVA. Tell your doctor if you have kidney problems or are allergic to milk proteins. Ask your doctor if you are not sure. Also discuss with your doctor all the medicines you take, including eye drops.

The most common side effect with SPIRIVA is dry mouth. Others include constipation and trouble passing urine. For a complete list of reported side effects, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Do not let the powder from the SPIRIVA capsule get into your eyes.

Dizziness and blurred vision may occur with SPIRIVA. Should you experience these symptoms, you should use caution when engaging in activities such as driving a car or operating appliances or other machines.

Read the Patient Information and the step-by-step Instructions for Use for SPIRIVA before you use your inhaler.

INDICATION

SPIRIVA® HandiHaler® (tiotropium bromide inhalation powder) is a prescription medicine used once each day (a maintenance medicine) to control symptoms of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) by relaxing your airways and keeping them open. COPD includes chronic bronchitis, emphysema, or both.

SPIRIVA HandiHaler also reduces the likelihood of flare-ups and worsening of COPD symptoms (COPD exacerbations).

The information provided on this site is for general information and educational purposes only. You should always consult a doctor for diagnosing and treating a health or fitness problem, and before using any drug product discussed on this site.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

Click here for full Prescribing Information and Instructions for Use.

DISCLAIMER

The tips contained on this site convey general information and are not intended to be, nor should they be used as, a replacement for the advice of a licensed physician. Your doctor knows your specific condition. As with all things medical, you should talk to your doctor before you start any treatment, exercise, diet, or other lifestyle change.