Tiotropium Other names: Tiotropium bromide

Chemical formula: C₁₉H₂₂NO₄S₂  Molecular mass: 392.512 g/mol  PubChem compound: 5487427

Interactions

Tiotropium interacts in the following cases:

Anticholinergics

The co-administration of tiotropium bromide with other anticholinergic-containing drugs has not been studied and is therefore not recommended.

Moderate to severe renal impairment

As plasma concentration increases with decreased renal function in patients with moderate to severe renal impairment (creatinine clearance ≤50 ml/min) tiotropium bromide should be used only if the expected benefit outweighs the potential risk. There is no long term experience in patients with severe renal impairment.

Recent myocardial infarction, cardiac arrhythmia, heart failure (NYHA Class III or IV)

Tiotropium should be used with caution in patients with recent myocardial infarction <6 months; any unstable or life threatening cardiac arrhythmia or cardiac arrhythmia requiring intervention or a change in drug therapy in the past year; hospitalisation of heart failure (NYHA Class III or IV) within the past year. These patients were excluded from the clinical trials and these conditions may be affected by the anticholinergic mechanism of action.

Narrow-angle glaucoma, prostatic hyperplasia, bladder-neck obstruction

Consistent with its anticholinergic activity, tiotropium bromide should be used with caution in patients with narrow-angle glaucoma, prostatic hyperplasia or bladder-neck obstruction.

Pregnancy

There is a very limited amount of data from the use of tiotropium in pregnant women. Animal studies do not indicate direct or indirect harmful effects with respect to reproductive toxicity at clinically relevant doses. As a precautionary measure, it is preferable to avoid the use of tiotropium during pregnancy.

Nursing mothers

It is unknown whether tiotropium bromide is excreted in human breast milk. Despite studies in rodents which have demonstrated that excretion of tiotropium bromide in breast milk occurs only in small amounts, use of tiotropium is not recommended during breast-feeding. Tiotropium bromide is a long-acting compound. A decision on whether to continue/discontinue breast-feeding or to continue/discontinue therapy with tiotropium should be made taking into account the benefit of breast-feeding to the child and the benefit of tiotropium therapy to the woman.

Carcinogenesis, mutagenesis and fertility

Fertility

Clinical data on fertility are not available for tiotropium. A non-clinical study performed with tiotropium showed no indication of any adverse effect on fertility.

Effects on ability to drive and use machines

No studies on the effects on the ability to drive and use machines have been performed. The occurrence of dizziness, blurred vision, or headache may influence the ability to drive and use machinery.

Adverse reactions


Summary of the safety profile

Many of the listed undesirable effects can be assigned to the anticholinergic properties of tiotropium bromide.

Tabulated summary of adverse reactions

The frequencies assigned to the undesirable effects listed below are based on crude incidence rates of adverse drug reactions (i.e. events attributed to tiotropium) observed in the tiotropium group pooled from 7 placebo-controlled clinical trials in COPD (3,282 patients) and 12 placebo-controlled clinical trials in adult and paediatric patients with asthma (1,930 patients) with treatment periods ranging from four weeks to one year.

Frequency is defined using the following convention: Very common (≥1/10); common (≥1/100 to <1/10); uncommon (≥1/1,000 to <1/100); rare (≥1/10,000 to <1/1,000); very rare (<1/10,000), not known (cannot be estimated from the available data).

System Organ Class / MedDRA Preferred Term Frequency COPDFrequency Asthma
Metabolism and nutrition disorders
DehydrationNot known Not known
Nervous system disorders
Dizziness UncommonUncommon
Headache Uncommon Uncommon
Insomnia Rare Uncommon
Eye disorders
GlaucomaRareNot known
Intraocular pressure increasedRare Not known
Vision blurred RareNot known
Cardiac disorders
Atrial fibrillation RareNot known
Palpitations Rare Uncommon
Supraventricular tachycardia RareNot known
TachycardiaRareNot known
Respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders
Cough Uncommon Uncommon
Pharyngitis Uncommon Uncommon
Dysphonia UncommonUncommon
Epistaxis RareRare
BronchospasmRare Uncommon
LaryngitisRare Not known
Sinusitis Not knownNot known
Gastrointestinal disorders
Dry MouthCommon Uncommon
ConstipationUncommonRare
Oropharyngeal candidiasisUncommonUncommon
DysphagiaRareNot known
Gastrooesophageal reflux diseaseRare Not known
Dental cariesRare Not known
Gingivitis Rare Rare
GlossitisRare Not known
Stomatitis Not knownRare
Intestinal obstruction, including ileus paralytic Not knownNot known
NauseaNot known Not known
Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders, immune system disorders
Rash UncommonUncommon
PruritusUncommonRare
Angioneurotic oedemaRare Rare
Urticaria RareRare
Skin infection/skin ulcer RareNot known
Dry skinRare Not known
Hypersensitivity (including immediate reactions) Not knownRare
Anaphylactic reaction Not known Not known
Musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders
Joint swelling Not knownNot known
Renal and urinary disorders
Urinary retentionUncommon Not known
Dysuria Uncommon Not known
Urinary tract infectionRare Rare

Description of selected adverse reactions

In controlled clinical studies in COPD, the commonly observed undesirable effects were anticholinergic undesirable effects such as dry mouth which occurred in approximately 2.9% of patients. In asthma the incidence of dry mouth was 0.83%.

In 7 clinical trials in COPD, dry mouth led to discontinuation in 3 of 3,282 tiotropium treated patients (0.1%). No discontinuations due to dry mouth were reported in 12 clinical trials in asthma (1,930 patients).

Serious undesirable effects consistent with anticholinergic effects include glaucoma, constipation, intestinal obstruction including ileus paralytic and urinary retention.

Paediatric population

The safety database includes 560 paediatric patients (296 patients aged 1 to 11 and 264 patients aged 12 to 17) from 5 placebo-controlled clinical trials with treatment periods ranging between 12 weeks to one year. The frequency, type and severity of adverse reactions in the paediatric population are similar as in adults.

Other special population

An increase in anticholinergic effects may occur with increasing age.

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