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Tiotropium Respimat, tiotropium HandiHaler provide similar clinical outcomes for COPD

Tiotropium Respimat and tiotropium HandiHaler are similarly safe and effective in managing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; therefore, physicians should consider factors other than clinical outcomes when prescribing an inhaler, according to recent findings published in BMC Pulmonary Medicine.

“Current guidelines for the management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) recommend maintenance treatment with inhaled bronchodilator therapy,” Ronald Dahl, MD, from Odense University Hospital and Alan Kaplan, MD, from the Family Physician Airways Group of Canada, wrote. “The choice of inhalation device is important because it can influence patients’ adherence to therapy, which can potentially affect long-term outcomes in a chronic disease such as COPD.”

“A detailed evaluation of [the tiotropium HandiHaler and tiotropium Respimat inhaler’s] respective effects on clinical outcomes is warranted to help inform the choice of inhaler for prescribers and patients,” they added.

Dahl and Kaplan conducted a systematic database search of comparative studies that reviewed pharmacokinetic, efficacy and safety data of tiotropium HandiHaler 18 μg and tiotropium Respimat 5 μg for the treatment of COPD. The researchers aimed to collect information that would aid physicians and patients in choosing the most appropriate inhaler.

Few patients reported experiencing adverse events while using either inhaler. Overall, data from several randomized studies indicated that Respimat and HandiHaler provide comparable results for patients with COPD across the disease spectrum.

“Factors other than efficacy and safety, such as patient preference for a particular inhaler, ease of use and handling, and the efficiency of drug delivery (which has improved significantly for tiotropium with the Respimat® device) should also be taken into account, with the aim of optimizing adherence and clinical outcomes with long-term tiotropium maintenance therapy.” – by Alaina Tedesco

Disclosure: The researchers report funding by Boehringer Ingelheim.