What is Spiriva HandiHaler?
Spiriva treats bronchospasm (narrowing of the airways in the lungs) associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It is an anticholinergic agent. It works by enlarging the airways to allow easier breathing. It comes as a capsule containing dry powder, which is inhaled through the mouth using the HandHaler device. Sprivia is manufactured by Boehringer Ingelheim, a German based pharmaceutical company, and marketed by Pfizer. COPD is a progressive lung disease that affects as many as 24 million Americans and kills more than 100,000 each year. Symptoms of COPD include restricted breathing, secretion of mucus, oxidative stress and inflammation of the airways. Spiriva is the most widely prescript drug to treat COPD. It has been used by more than 8 million patients around the world since it was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2002.
