User Reviews for Spiriva with HandiHaler inhalation

Spiriva was a new breath of life every day for me. I loved it. After about one year of use my insurance policy changed and BC/BS would no longer pay for any "name brands". Since there isn't a generic I was forced to discontinue use due to the excessive cost. Nothing else has has been as effective for me. I miss it a great deal and feel that my life will be shortened to enable BC/BS to continue their multi-billion dollar quarterly profits.

constipation, sore tongue,headaches, sore eye

I always had side effects but it eventually caused bronchospasm and worsened breathing, rigid bronchi or chest wall muscles or both.

i think it has helped slightly but the side effects i do not like i have gained weight blurry vision sometimes and noticeable decrease in urine pain in side i am not goin to take it for a week or so to see it these effects clear up. anyone get very small pieces of blue plastic stuck in throat ??

Many times the capsules are empty or the Handi-haler is defective and does not puncture the capsule but breaks it. When I have severe bronchospasms, I cannot inhale well enough for the medication to get in my lungs to work correctly. The cost is prohibitive being on Medicare because it puts me in the 'donut hole' every year.

caused rash and leg pain. Dr.prescribed it for asthma definitely not an asthma drug.

I have increased headaches and my breathing is worse and I do not feel it is working for me. what do you recomend

I have one big complaint. The price is ridiculous and I am on Medicare. I cannot afford to take a drug that is going to make the drug company rich. They should be ashamed of themselves, I cannot see where this drug should cost so much.

After I have used Spiriva for about two months I end up with severe heartburn. I stopped Spiriva and heartburn ceased. Several months later I resumed using Spiriva with the same results.

Spiriva has given me back my life. I was using a nebulizer 3-4 tims a day and tied to the house quite a bit. Now I'm able to go out for the day and breathing better than I have for a long time. Like many others, the price has me very concerned, I don't know what I'll do when I hit the "donut hole". Also upset over empty capsules!

I've been on this medication for 1+ year. My lung specialist put me on this for chronic coughing spells. I still have the cough but it hasn't gone into a full blown 1 hour cough that finally stops once I can bring up a mucous plug. I've experienced blurred vision that needed a prescription change in less than 7 months. That is totally unusual for me. I can go several years without any Rx change. I also had frequent UTI's -- one a month for three months then 2 in one month. I then told my Dr. that I wanted off the medication and felt my congestion and coughing was due to allergies even through I've had the skin test which doesn't show that I have an allergy to anything. Yesterday, I cut the grass and was working outside for less than 2 hrs. The congestion and cough started right up. I'm seeing my allergist next week. I also think they should put the meds in clear capsules so we can all see if we have medication. I can tell if a capsule is empty -- if I don't have a slight taste in my mouth after inhaling that leads me to believe the capsule was empty. You can also flash a light on the capsule. Oh, has anyone gained weight? I can't believe how many lbs I've put on since using Spiriva. My eating habits haven't changed but I now have a beer belly mid-section. This is the only medication I've taking so I think weight gain is a problem. Since I stopped taking it I haven't been able to lose my belly fat. Good luck to all of you. If anyone else has been put on this medication for coughing and mucous build-up please let me know. Same for weight gain.Read More Read Less

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.

had ASTHMA for 73 years; over that period saw about fifteen different doctors; allergic to many things including changes in weather, pollens, dust, fish, eggs, ragweed, you name it. At age 72, tired of new medicines, I refused to take SPIRIVA ordered by my doctor. Finally, about two years ago, I tried it. I HAVE NOT HAD ASTHMA SINCE. That is the plain truth. No need for "rescue" meds, no need for anything but my SPIRIVA once a day. If I'd had it in high school, I'd have started for a big college hoops team. True story. SPIRIVA. SPIRIVA. SPIRIVA. I am lucky, I know. It certainly works for me. Miracle might seem to be too strong a term here, but for me it was a miracle. Period.Read More Read Less

I have experienced nothing from this & doctors seem to be deaf to my statements. It's as though either they just read the literature & go with it or they receive a rewardfor each prescription!

is there a generic form, as I am on sicial secutity and I have already ready reached the loop at cannot afford this medication

bouts of thrush. Excessive fibrillation. Dry mouth. Swollen gums. Sore throat. Hoarseness.

The delivery system for these capsules is dreadful. I don't know whether the capsule is empty to begin with (this has happened)or they just need to think of a better implement in order to inhale all the drug. Secondly, the cost is ridiculous, even with insurance...so they should try working on a more efective way for people to use it.

Took a month to work and it was like night and day, but I'm now have trouble with my vision. I had halos around lights before Spireva. Now I'm having blurry vision when I'm tired. Had my eyes checked and have a narrowing in the right eye. I'm also having a left side weakness that I have had years ago which comes and goes. ?Connection?

i have taken it for about 9 months i did notice empty pills called the company and made them call and give me a new pack then i started to notice that i was starting to get crampa in my feet at night stopped med and wow no more cramps