Pfizer, BI inhaler may raise risk of death: study

[Islander]

By Julie Steenhuysen (http://blogs.reuters.com/search/journalist.php?edition=us&n=julie.steenhuysen&)
CHICAGO | Wed Jun 15, 2011

(Reuters) - A mist inhaler used to improve breathing in people with lung diseases including chronic bronchitis and emphysema may increase their risk of dying by 52 percent, U.S. and British researchers said on Tuesday.
The increased risk occurred in patients who used the Spiriva Respimat inhaler, a newer device sold by privately held Boehringer Ingelheim (BI) and Pfizer. It delivers a soluble form of Spiriva, known generically as tiotropium.
The finding was contested by Pfizer and BI.
The inhaler is used to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, the fourth-leading cause of death worldwide, which includes the chronic lung diseases emphysema and bronchitis. COPD is usually due to decades of smoking.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/06/15/us-inhaler-deaths-idUSTRE75D6YC20110615?feedType=nl&feedName=ushealth1100

[mellowsong]

This is not at all surprising. The most used class of broncho-dilators (beta-agonists) have had the same findings with the sustained release versions of drugs like albuterol. Spiriva is an anti-cholinergic. Both types of drugs dilate the airways; beta agonists by stimulating the sympathetic nervous system and anti-cholinergics by blocking the parasympathetic nervous system. Both classes of drugs seriously impact the heart. The heart and lungs are intimately linked and by helping the lungs, in turn, you are stressing the heart with these drugs. Yes, they are life saving but the effects on the heart from long acting forms appear to be cumulative. I don't tolerate even the short acting forms of beta agonists at all. I am on a short acting form of of an anti-cholinergic. This does not affect my heart as much but when I have to use it a lot, I get severe tachycardia and chest pain.

[Samurai]

Well done, Mellow.
All of these drugs carry a hefty risk. Yet most, but not all people that have copd ( I know you don't, Mellow), have this dx from smoking cigarettes for many years. I have yet to meet a patient that is a smoker, and is concerned about the risks concerning the use of these drugs.