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Quick facts
- How it is given
- oral, respiratory (inhalation)
- Type
- human prescription drug
- RxNorm ID
- 485032
We do not publish dosing. How much of this medicine to take, how often, and for how long depends on your age, weight, kidney and liver function, other conditions and other medicines. That is a decision for the person who prescribes or dispenses it. Follow the directions on your own pack and ask your pharmacist if anything is unclear.
What it is used to treat
Tiotropium bromide inhalation powder is indicated for the long-term, once-daily, maintenance treatment of bronchospasm associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), including chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Tiotropium bromide inhalation powder is indicated to reduce exacerbations in COPD patients. Tiotropium bromide inhalation powder is an anticholinergic indicated for the long-term, once-daily, maintenance treatment of bronchospasm associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and for reducing COPD exacerbations ( 1 )
About this medicine
Tiotropium bromide inhalation powder consists of tiotropium bromide inhalation powder capsules and a LupinHaler device. Each white opaque, hypromellose tiotropium bromide inhalation powder capsule contains a dry powder consisting of 18 mcg tiotropium (equivalent to 22.5 mcg tiotropium bromide monohydrate USP) blended with lactose monohydrate (which may contain milk proteins). The contents of tiotropium bromide inhalation powder capsules are intended for oral inhalation only, and are intended for administration only with the LupinHaler device. The active component of tiotropium bromide inhalation powder is tiotropium. The drug substance, tiotropium bromide monohydrate, is an anticholinergic with specificity for muscarinic receptors. It is chemically described as (1α, 2β, 4β, 5α, 7β)-7-[(Hydroxydi-2-thienylacetyl)oxy]-9,9-dimethyl-3-oxa-9-azoniatricyclo [3.3.1.0 2,4 ] nonane bromide monohydrate. It is a synthetic, non-chiral, quaternary ammonium compound. Tiotropium bromide is a white or yellowish white powder. It is sparingly soluble in water and soluble in methanol. The structural formula is: Tiotropium bromide (monohydrate) has a molecular mass of 490.4 and a molecular formula of C 19 H 22 NO 4 S 2 Br • H 2 O. The LupinHaler device is an inhalation device used to inhale the dry powder contained in the tiotropium bromide inhalation powder capsule. The dry powder is delivered from the LupinHaler device at flow rates as low as 20 L/min. Under standardized in vitro testing, the LupinHaler device delivers a mean of 10.4 mcg tiotropium when tested at a flow rate of 39 L/min for 3.1 seconds (2 L total). In a study of 26 adult patients with COPD and severely compromised lung function [mean FEV 1 1.02 L (range 0.45 to 2.24 L); 37.6% of predicted (range 16% to 65%)], the median peak inspiratory flow (PIF) through the LupinHaler device was 30.0 L/min (range 20.4 to 45.6 L/min). […]
How it works
12.1 Mechanism of Action Tiotropium is a long-acting, antimuscarinic agent, which is often referred to as an anticholinergic. It has similar affinity to the subtypes of muscarinic receptors, M 1 to M 5 . In the airways, it exhibits pharmacological effects through inhibition of M 3 -receptors at the smooth muscle leading to bronchodilation. The competitive and reversible nature of antagonism was shown with human and animal origin receptors and isolated organ preparations. In preclinical in vitro as well as in vivo studies, prevention of methacholine-induced bronchoconstriction effects was dose-dependent and lasted longer than 24 hours. The bronchodilation following inhalation of tiotropium is predominantly a site-specific effect.
Who should not take it
Tiotropium bromide inhalation powder is contraindicated in patients with a hypersensitivity to tiotropium, ipratropium, or any components of this product [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.2 )] . In clinical trials and postmarketing experience with tiotropium bromide inhalation powder, immediate hypersensitivity reactions, including angioedema (including swelling of the lips, tongue, or throat), itching, or rash have been reported [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.2 )] . Hypersensitivity to tiotropium, ipratropium, or any components of tiotropium bromide inhalation powder capsules ( 4 )
Warnings and cautions
Not for acute use: Not a rescue medication ( 5.1 ) Immediate hypersensitivity reactions: Discontinue tiotropium bromide inhalation powder at once and consider alternatives if immediate hypersensitivity reactions, including angioedema, urticaria, rash, bronchospasm, or anaphylaxis, occur. Use with caution in patients with severe hypersensitivity to milk proteins. ( 5.2 ) Paradoxical bronchospasm: Discontinue tiotropium bromide inhalation powder and consider other treatments if paradoxical bronchospasm occurs ( 5.3 ) Worsening of narrow-angle glaucoma may occur. Use with caution in patients with narrow-angle glaucoma and instruct patients to consult a physician immediately if this occurs. ( 5.4 ) Worsening of urinary retention may occur. Use with caution in patients with prostatic hyperplasia or bladder-neck obstruction and instruct patients to consult a physician immediately if this occurs. ( 5.5 ) 5.1 Not for Acute Use Tiotropium bromide inhalation powder is intended as a once-daily maintenance treatment for COPD and should not be used for relief of acute symptoms, i.e., as rescue therapy for the treatment of acute episodes of bronchospasm. 5.2 Immediate Hypersensitivity Reactions Immediate hypersensitivity reactions, including urticaria, angioedema (including swelling of the lips, tongue, or throat), rash, bronchospasm, anaphylaxis, or itching, may occur after administration of tiotropium bromide inhalation powder. If such a reaction occurs, therapy with tiotropium bromide inhalation powder should be stopped at once and alternative treatments should be considered. Given the similar structural formula of atropine to tiotropium, patients with a history of hypersensitivity reactions to atropine or its derivatives should be closely monitored for similar hypersensitivity reactions to tiotropium bromide inhalation powder. In addition, tiotropium bromide inhalation powder should be used with caution in patients with severe hypersensitivity to milk proteins. 5.3 Paradoxical Bronchospasm Inhaled medicines, including tiotropium bromide inhalation powder, may cause paradoxical bronchospasm. […]
Reported side effects
The following adverse reactions are described, or described in greater detail, in other sections: Immediate hypersensitivity reactions [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.2 )] Paradoxical bronchospasm [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.3 )] Worsening of narrow-angle glaucoma [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.4 )] Worsening of urinary retention [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.5 )] The most common adverse reactions (>5% incidence in the 1-year placebo- controlled trials) were upper respiratory tract infection, dry mouth, sinusitis, pharyngitis, non-specific chest pain, urinary tract infection, dyspepsia, and rhinitis ( 6.1 ) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Lupin Pharmaceuticals, Inc. at 1-800-399-2561 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch . 6.1 Clinical Trials Experience Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, the incidence of adverse reactions observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to the incidences in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the incidences observed in practice. 6-Month to 1-Year Trials The data described below reflect exposure to tiotropium bromide inhalation powder in 2,663 patients. Tiotropium bromide inhalation powder was studied in two 1-year placebo-controlled trials, two 1-year active-controlled trials, and two 6-month placebo-controlled trials in patients with COPD. In these trials, 1,308 patients were treated with tiotropium bromide inhalation powder at the recommended dosage of 18 mcg once a day. The population had an age ranging from 39 to 87 years with 65% to 85% males, 95% Caucasian, and had COPD with a mean pre-bronchodilator forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV 1 ) percent predicted of 39% to 43%. Patients with narrow-angle glaucoma, or symptomatic prostatic hypertrophy or bladder outlet obstruction were excluded from these trials. An additional 6-month trial conducted in a Veteran's Affairs setting is not included in this safety database because only serious adverse events were collected. The most commonly reported adverse drug reaction was dry mouth. […]
Interactions with other medicines
Anticholinergics: May interact additively with concomitantly used anticholinergic medications. Avoid administration of tiotropium bromide inhalation powder with other anticholinergic-containing drugs. ( 7.2 ) 7.1 Sympathomimetics, Methylxanthines, Steroids Tiotropium bromide inhalation powder has been used concomitantly with short-acting and long-acting sympathomimetic (beta-agonists) bronchodilators, methylxanthines, and oral and inhaled steroids without increases in adverse reactions. 7.2 Anticholinergics There is potential for an additive interaction with concomitantly used anticholinergic medications. Therefore, avoid coadministration of tiotropium bromide inhalation powder with other anticholinergic-containing drugs as this may lead to an increase in anticholinergic adverse effects [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.4 , 5.5 ) and Adverse Reactions ( 6 )].
Use in specific groups
Patients with moderate to severe renal impairment should be monitored closely for potential anticholinergic side effects ( 2 , 8.6 ) 8.1 Pregnancy Risk Summary The limited human data with tiotropium bromide inhalation powder use during pregnancy are insufficient to inform a drug-associated risk of adverse pregnancy-related outcomes. Based on animal reproduction studies, no structural abnormalities were observed when tiotropium was administered by inhalation to pregnant rats and rabbits during the period of organogenesis at doses 790 and 8 times, respectively, the maximum recommended human daily inhalation dose (MRHDID). Increased post-implantation loss was observed in rats and rabbits administered tiotropium at maternally toxic doses 430 times and 40 times the MRHDID, respectively [see Data]. The estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage for the indicated population is unknown. All pregnancies have a background risk of birth defect, loss or other adverse outcomes. In the U.S. general population, the estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage in clinically recognized pregnancies is 2% to 4% and 15% to 20%, respectively. Data Animal Data In 2 separate embryo-fetal development studies, pregnant rats and rabbits received tiotropium during the period of organogenesis at doses up to approximately 790 and 8 times the MRHDID, respectively (on a mcg/m 2 basis at inhalation doses of 1,471 and 7 mcg/kg/day in rats and rabbits, respectively). No evidence of structural abnormalities was observed in rats or rabbits. However, in rats, tiotropium caused fetal resorption, litter loss, decreases in the number of live pups at birth and the mean pup weights, and a delay in pup sexual maturation at tiotropium doses of approximately 40 times the MRHDID (on a mcg/m 2 basis at a maternal inhalation dose of 78 mcg/kg/day). In rabbits, tiotropium caused an increase in post-implantation loss at a tiotropium dose of approximately 430 times the MRHDID (on a mcg/m 2 basis at a maternal inhalation dose of 400 mcg/kg/day). […]
If too much is taken
High doses of tiotropium may lead to anticholinergic signs and symptoms. However, there were no systemic anticholinergic adverse effects following a single inhaled dose of up to 282 mcg tiotropium in 6 healthy volunteers. In a study of 12 healthy volunteers, bilateral conjunctivitis and dry mouth were seen following repeated once- daily inhalation of 141 mcg of tiotropium. Treatment of overdosage consists of discontinuation of tiotropium bromide inhalation powder together with institution of appropriate symptomatic and/or supportive therapy. Accidental Ingestion Acute intoxication by inadvertent oral ingestion of tiotropium bromide inhalation powder capsules is unlikely since it is not well-absorbed systemically. A case of overdose has been reported from postmarketing experience. A female patient was reported to have inhaled 30 capsules over a 2.5 day period, and developed altered mental status, tremors, abdominal pain, and severe constipation. The patient was hospitalized, tiotropium bromide inhalation powder was discontinued, and the constipation was treated with an enema. The patient recovered and was discharged on the same day.
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This page is built from the openFDA record of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's approved labelling for this product, effective 11 November 2025. Label text has been shortened and reformatted for readability; safety wording has not been altered in meaning. FDA labelling describes products approved in the United States — brand names, strengths, formulations and approved uses may differ in your country. Always read the leaflet that comes with your own pack. PocketsInfo is not affiliated with, and is not endorsed by, the FDA. Retrieved 2026-07-30.