How to Use Spiriva Respimat: Your Complete Guide
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Are you an individual who manages chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or asthma on a regular basis?
Or—is one of your loved ones in this situation?
If you are, you know that effective maintenance treatments can be the difference between a pretty normal, comfortable day-to-day experience…and something much riskier and more painful.
Fortunately, today, there is a wide variety of such treatments to explore. No matter what your particular health condition and goals may be, there’s likely a medication uniquely suited to you.
One such asthma and COPD treatment might be Spiriva Respimat. This medication is an inhalation spray that can help improve breathing and reduce adverse respiratory symptoms.
It can be life-changing (if it’s used correctly).
Need a guide to using Spiriva Respimat well? You’ve found it.
Here’s everything you need to know about Spiriva Respimat.
What Is Spiriva Respimat Used For?
Spiriva Respimat leverages tiotropium bromide as an active ingredient.
Tiotropium bromide is a long-acting bronchodilator. It works by targeting the muscles surrounding a person’s airways and relaxing them.
This can help people breathe easier, and it can help prevent symptoms like wheezing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath.
The main indication of Spiriva Respimat is COPD. There are nearly 16 million American adults struggling to manage their COPD effectively. For them, and, perhaps, for you, Spiriva Respimat may be a compelling option.
Spiriva Respimat can also treat asthma symptoms, since, as Dr. Brynna Connor, M.D., a board-certified family medicine physician who specializes in regenerative medicine, puts it: “Asthma and COPD both lead to similar symptoms, including:
- Coughing
- Wheezing (a whistling or squeaking sound when you breathe)
- A feeling of tightness in the chest
- Shortness of breath (a feeling of breathlessness or difficulty taking in a deep breath).”
Spiriva Respimat can connect people suffering from these symptoms with attractive benefits, including:
- Its efficacy. Spiriva Respimat can reduce exacerbation risk by over 30%, according to its performance in clinical trials.
- Its ability to elevate quality of life. Using Spiriva Respimat long-term can improve lung function, which makes it much easier to take time for enjoyable activities and spend time with those you love.
- Its ability to help patients stay active. By reducing the difficulty of breathing, Spiriva Respimat can help people stay active for longer—which, in turn, opens up a world of health benefits that might previously have been inaccessible.
Sometimes, Spiriva Respimat is also prescribed to assist with asthma management. It’s not an appropriate solution for people aged five or younger, and it’s not a rescue treatment.
However, Spiriva Respimat can help people maintain long-term control of asthma when used regularly.
The Key Features of Spiriva Respimat
Or, phrased differently: What differentiates Spiriva Respimat from the (many) other inhalers on the market?
There are a few key value-adds that Spiriva Respimat specifically brings to the table.
These include:
- Soft mist inhaler technology. When engaged, Spiriva Respimat delivers medication in a very fine mist, which can make it much easier to inhale for people who have limited lung capacity.
- Long-lasting results. One dose of Spiriva Respimat can provide up to 24 hours of relief and symptom control for good medication candidates.
- A convenient, compact, and portable design. This makes it easy to use whether it’s time for your dose while you’re at home or you’re out and about.
How to Use Spiriva Respimat for the First Time
Just been prescribed Spiriva Respimat?
It’s important to make sure that you set up the inhaler correctly for first-time use. Preparing your device well isn’t hard, but it does require some thought and care.
Here’s what you need to do.
Step 1: Assemble Your Inhaler.
Once you’ve received your inhaler and checked to make sure the package was sealed and everything expected is included in the box, it’s time to put your inhaler together.
Start by inserting the medication cartridge. Keep the cap closed! Remove the clear base of the device by pressing the safety catch while you’re pulling the base off.
Then, push the medication cartridge into the inhaler. Press gently but firmly until you hear a small click—that means the cartridge has been fully inserted.
Finally, replace the clear base of your Spiriva Respimat device by turning it in the direction of the small arrows. Continue turning until you hear another small click.
Step 2: Prime Your Device.
The very first time you use your device shouldn’t actually be for dosage; it should be to make sure the entire thing works properly.
(Don’t worry—this isn’t wasting dosage. The device’s initial spray won’t necessarily be a full dose, and by doing this, you’ll be making sure your first dose is exactly what it should be.)
To prime:
- Hold the inhaler upright.
- Turn the device’s clear base in the direction of the arrows until it clicks.
- Open the cap.
- Point the inhaler away from your face.
- Press the dose-release button until you see a visible mist.
Follow the instructions on the box to make sure you’ve primed properly.
You may need to press the dose-release button three times to ensure the device is ready to work as planned.
Step 3: Take Your Dose.
After you’ve primed your inhaler, you can use the device to achieve your prescribed dose.
Once you’ve taken your dose, make sure you close the cap after each use. This will help keep the device clean (and you, safe from infection).
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Using Spiriva Respimat
Although Spiriva Respimat should be relatively intuitive to use, it can be simple to make assumptions or get in the habit of using it incorrectly.
That can be an issue, since proper technique is the best way to ensure that you get the full benefit of your COPD or asthma treatment.
These are a few common mistakes to be aware of, and, hopefully, avoid.
Incorrect priming, which can result in incomplete or even ineffective dosing.
Exhaling into the inhaler, which, since the inhaler is not equipped for incoming air, can affect the device’s subsequent performance.
Breathing too quickly, which can prevent the medication from going as deep into your lungs as is needed.
(While taking your medication, it’s best to breathe slowly and deeply so the medication has time to disperse properly.)
Skipping doses, which constitutes medication nonadherence and can result in lackluster effects of your medication or could even be dangerous, depending on the severity of your asthma or COPD.
Avoid these practices, and you should be well on your way to experiencing the best possible effects of Spiriva Respimat.
Spiriva Respimat Side Effects: What to Expect
Spiriva Respimat is a powerful medication. It helps people with asthma and COPD live safer, healthier, and happier lives. That power resolves symptoms, and—as is the case with any effective prescription medication—can cause side effects.
Most of the side effects associated with Spiriva Respimat are very mild, or, at the very least, should resolve on their own.
However, it’s a very good idea to know what to expect and know when it might be time to talk to your doctor.
Common side effects of Spiriva Respimat include:
- Dry mouth
- Sore throat
- Cough
- Headache
Spiriva Respimat can also cause some more serious side effects. These should be rare, but, again, they’re good to know about. If any of these side effects occur, talk to your doctor at once.
- Allergic reactions
- Urinary retention – or the sudden inability to urinate, or extreme discomfort while urinating
- Eye pain, or changes in your vision
Avoiding or minimizing side effects while using Spiriva Respimat can be simple. Rinse your mouth out after taking your medication to reduce the risk of dry mouth, direct the mist away from your eyes, and, throughout the day, drink plenty of water to help reduce the chances of the other side effects.
Spiriva Respimat Price: Here’s What to Expect
The average price for one Spiriva Respimat device and cartridge is about $620.00.
One cartridge will have enough medication in it to last for about 30 days. That means keeping up with chronic treatment with Spiriva Respimat will, unfortunately, cost you a pretty penny.
For some, insurance may help.
But increasingly, relying on insurance isn’t a sure thing.
Especially in the United States, where insurance coverage is tied to volatile employment and insurers themselves are always changing coverage options, it’s a good idea to have another plan for obtaining low-cost, high-quality medications.
You don’t have to look far to make that plan! Here, through NorthWestPharmacy.com, you can buy a 60-actuation supply of Spiriva Respimat for about $140.00 (and savings of up to 77%).
Are There Other Ways to Save on Spiriva Respimat?
If over $600.00 per month on asthma or COPD treatment doesn’t fit in your budget (understandable), you might want to have a few options to consider when reducing your personal costs for Spiriva Respimat.
A few ways to do so may include:
Searching for and leveraging manufacturer coupons. Every once in a while, the manufacturer of Spiriva Respimat may release promotional coupons or designated savings cards for the device. Keeping an eye out for these can offer you an easy, one-off way to reduce the cost of a specific device.
Talk to your healthcare provider about the best ways to find these coupons or to determine eligibility for savings cards; sometimes, hospitals or other healthcare institutions may receive a few of these coupons or cards to distribute to patients.
Playing the insurance game. Before you obtain Spiriva Respimat for the first time, contact your insurance provider and, if possible, get a representative to tell you whether or not Spiriva Respimat is covered.
If it is, you may be able to expect lower-cost Spiriva Respimat for a period of time, but don’t get complacent!
Schedule ongoing reminders to contact your company again to see whether the medication is still covered so you don’t get a bad surprise at the pharmacy checkout counter.
If your current insurer does not cover Spiriva Respimat, you may be able to work with your doctor to petition the company to consider it. You may also be able to up your coverage or switch providers, even if it takes seeking new employment, to find a provider that provides this coverage.
Relying on high-quality online and international pharmacy websites. Accredited and reputable online Canadian pharmacies and international ones can often source brand-name, sealed, and safe medication from markets that United States pharmacies don’t have access to. In many cases, these pharmacy websites pass those savings directly on to the end user (you).
It’s important to make sure you’re working with a safe online pharmacy and Canada drugs supplier, though, to avoid getting scammed or being sent inauthentic products. Doing your homework and reading online reviews, scouring pharmacy websites for signs of internet authenticity like the Norton Shopping Guarantee, and selecting websites that require prescriptions for prescription medications can go a long way toward funneling out potentially dangerous sites.
Fortunately, there’s another quick-and-easy way that you can check to see whether a Canadian pharmacy website is worth trusting.
CIPA, or the Canadian International Pharmacy Association, is a highly regarded authority that vets pharmacy websites against stringent, exacting safety standards. If a pharmacy website bears its certification seal, it’s very likely worth trusting.
FAQs About Spiriva Respimat
Still have questions about Spiriva Respimat? We’ve got answers. Here are four quick, direct Q&As to help you feel confident about the fundamentals of this asthma and COPD treatment.
1. Can Spiriva Respimat Be Used as a Rescue Inhaler?
No, Spiriva Respimat cannot be used as a rescue inhaler. Spiriva Respimat is a maintenance medication, used for long-term control. For emergencies, you’ll need to have a shorter-acting option (like albuterol) instead.
2. How Long Does It Take for Spiriva Respimat to Work?
Most patients should see improvements after their first few doses of Spiriva Respimat. However, it may take up to two months of consistent use to see maximum benefits.
3. Can I Use Spiriva Respimat With Other Asthma Medications?
Yes, you can use Spiriva Respimat with other asthma or COPD medications.
In fact, if you’re in need of a rescue inhaler, you’ll need to take this strategy.
Spiriva Respimat is also prescribed alongside other medications intentionally to provide comprehensive treatment. These other medications may include inhaled corticosteroids or long-acting beta-agonists.
4. Is Spiriva Respimat Safe for Long-Term Use?
Yes, Spiriva Respimat is safe for long-term use. In fact, using Spiriva both regularly and long-term, as directed by your doctor, can help mitigate COPD and asthma symptoms long-term and contribute to your longevity and quality of life.
Ready to Find Affordable Spiriva Respimat Online?
If so, you’re in the right place.
Check out our Spiriva Respimat page now to learn more about this treatment, explore your purchasing options, and take control of your respiratory health.
Our team is ready to chat at your convenience if you have any questions.
We look forward to supporting you and your health journey!
