Gordon5711 years ago

It's supposed to give 24 hours of support, so once you get into a routine you should really take it at the same time each day. I tend to do mine just before tea, can't say I was told any specific time.

Hidden11 years ago

Well, I had been taking it in the morning, but the Nurse on Friday at the Chest Clinic, said I should be taking it at night time.... oops

Lynne195511 years ago

I use it in the morning and that works for me.

Lynne xx

azaard11 years ago

I think its a case of what suits you the best, but stick to the routine.

newlands11 years ago

hi i was told to take on a morning after seretide i take montelukast at night and thats the way i was given it when in hospital

taffydaffy11 years ago

I also take mine in the morning as I am out of breath as soon as I get out of bed x

elian11 years ago

Mine's done in the morning too

keep on keeping on ....

xx

teddyd11 years ago

I take it at night.

Latte11 years ago

Thanks for all the replies.

Hidden11 years ago

I find these comments interesting. I normally take mine in the morning. I got so tired and breathless around suppertime. I am now thinking maybe I should take the spiriva around 4pm. Then I would find cooking sup such an ordeal.

btype11 years ago

I have always taken mine in the morning about five minutes after my seretide.

Gordon5711 years ago

This is like ringing the national rail helpline and asking what time the next train is - without saying where in the country you are, or where you want to go The answers are as scattered as any reply to that question would be.

As long as you are taking the medication evenly, about the same time each day, it should not matter if it is morning, noon or night. The dosage will last until the next one is due.

I also take Montelukast (Singulair) but was told that had to be at night, no specific time at night, just to try and keep to a routine if possible. Then there's the green Salmeterol inhaler, which I have to take 2 puffs twice a day. Logic says to space them evenly, but nobody has suggested a certain time of day is better than any other.

My daily routine seems to be to wake up, a couple of puffs of the blue inhaler as I head to the bathroom. Get downstairs, cuppa and biccy, then 2 puffs of the green inhaler. I use the blue inhaler as I need it during the day, some days less than others. Late morning I take on Lansoprazole capsule. Around teatime I go through 2 more puffs of the green and 2 of the brown (steroid) inhalers, plus the Spiriva. Before bedtime I take one Montelukast and one Simvastatin as well as a D3 capsule. If I'm on antibiotics and steroids then I'll normally have those mid-afternoon.

But, as we keep saying, everyone is different...

newlands in reply to Gordon5711 years ago

well seems to me the ciinics should get together and maybe we would all know what we are doing this has really worried me ,because i w as told the spiriva lasted 12 hrs and montulukast 12 hrs and thats why they shoudnt be taken at the same time but 12hrs apart so who knows whats right and whats wrong but its worried me maybe that why i can only walk a few steps without stopping if i am taking my medication wrong!!!

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Gordon57 in reply to newlands11 years ago

If you read the information leaflet in Spiriva it says:

3. HOW TO TAKE SPIRIVA 18 MICROGRAM

Follow your doctor’s instructions about when and how to take your medicine. If you are unsure ask your doctor or pharmacist.

The recommended dose is to inhale the contents of 1 capsule (18 micrograms of tiotropium) once a day.

Do not take more than the recommended dose.

You should try to take the capsule at the same time every day. This is important because SPIRIVA 18 microgram is effective over 24 hours.

There is a whole wesbite for Spiriva at spiriva.com/ - the main page says "Once-daily SPIRIVA helps improve lung function by opening obstructed airways for up to 24 hours. "

SIngulair 10mg is normally taken at night as it takes about 3 hours to get into the system. There's no indicator of this lasting 24 hours in the leaflet, but the normal dose is one tablet at night and I can only go on what the pharmacist at our surgery has told me, she looks after the COPD patients too.

The two drugs work in different ways. If you're unsure then please take advice from your GP, nurses or the BLF helpline. Singular (Montelukast) is an asthma treatment whereas Spirivia is usually prescribed for COPD.

What would be helpful is if there was some guideline in the public domain about what the different types of medication are, what they do, and when to take them. I have bookmarked many documents and websites, I don't know of any that suggest the best time to use Spiriva, or anything else for that matter. At best I've found one NHS manual that says that inhalers apart from relievers are taken at set times, but no indication of those times...

The best advice remains, follow the information you were given to take Spiriva one dose a day at about the same time.

PS. I'll be going through Birstall on Thursday on a trip to visit my Dad in the car... I was born in Staincliffe

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newlands in reply to Gordon5711 years ago

oh well Gordon thanks for that my trouble is, i listen to what i am told then dont read the instructions because i have bad eyesiight,

im due to see nurse soon see what she says .

i take so much medication who knows what s interacting with any of them ! Dont live in Birstall live in Heckmondwike but the top of my street is Dewsbury and leads to staincliffe small world

i

i

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elian in reply to newlands11 years ago

I'm in Cleckheaton, newlands !! Will you be joining me at the next Breathe Easy meeting ??? Transport can be arranged for you

keep on keeping on ....

xx

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newlands in reply to elian11 years ago

hi dont know about breathe easy depend s when and where it is but good to know about . it thank you

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ann1webb11 years ago

My consultant told me to take spivira on a morning when he prescribed it, that works for me and I have seretide 500 twice a day and ventolin as and when needed. Basically I think that as long as your routine works for you then that's fine

Hidden in reply to ann1webb11 years ago

hi ann1webb.i read wat u rote,im copd moderate,my gp put me on seritde 500/and ventolin/but no spiriva/ does that mean not all of us have 3 meds yet take care .am 63

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Latte11 years ago

The one i'm on is 24hr. says on leaflet inside too. but would agree that if things were explain

ed abit better then we wouldn't have to ask each other.

What also doesn't help is that support groups aren't meeting in evenings!!

jpscribbla11 years ago

Interesting comments here. I started to take my Spiriva regularly in the mornings when first prescribed about 9 months ago. My breathing has been worst in the morning and gradually improved as the day progresses. A couple of weeks ago I decided to try taking it at night to see if it made a difference. My lungs seem much better in the mornings now and the breathing is fine throughout the day too. It does seem that, for me, taking the Spiriva at night markedly improves my breathing in the mornings so I will continue to take it then. Don't know if this is 'all in my mind' but I don't really care so long as it works well for me! The key, I think, is to experiment with the timing to see what works best for you. I really did notice a difference for myself anyway. Best wishes to you all.

Latte11 years ago

From what everyone is saying we should be taking it a little while before we know were are at our worse to get the full benefits of this medication.

Glad this has helped others too.. i dont feel so silly now for asking.

Hidden11 years ago

I read somewhere that Spiriva actually lasts 30+ hours so there is an overlap time.

I used to use it at tea time but was being kept awake with indigestion, wondered if that was the cause and swapped it to morning and I've been fine ever since.

Lorraine

PS the latest BNF doesn't specify when it should be taken so that's probably why doctors don't advise.

Gordon57 in reply to Hidden11 years ago

The overlap period differs according to how an individual absorbs the tiotropium into their system and how quickly it is excreted. That can depend on other medication, age, body size, diet, fluids and other conditions. But you're probably in the right area

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kujude11 years ago

I was struggling with wheezing and coughing keeping me (and hubby ) awake was told by cons to take my spiriva at night it has really helped getting more sleep !

dunmow111 years ago

I take spireva after seratide every morning this works for me but not as well as when I first started, about6 years ago before that I was taking seratide, plus ventolin and atrovent in nebuliser, was told by asthma nurse that spireva replaced atrovent

Donniepk8 years ago

Hi THis is Don From NYC - ihope your breathing has improved - its such a tough illness but its treatable. I take Symbicort 160/4.5 higest dose 2 puffs in the morning after i have coffee as a maintenance medication and it helps GREATLY sometimes i have to follow up with a nebulizertreatment of albuterol and itroprpriam bromide a while later but i'm actually good fof the day with that i also start to fade a bit around 3:30 so that's when i take my second dose of Symbicort an d then around 5/ 5:30 i take the new Spiriva respimat which is stronger than the handhaler and ive only been on it for 6 days now and i'm starting to feel difference - Talk with yur Pulmonary dr she/ he will help and STOP SMOKING if yu already haven't BELEIVE ME WHAT A BI DIFFERENEC E I FEEL WITHOUT A CIG IN 3 weeks !

Hidden in reply to Donniepk8 years ago

Hi Don, welcome. I don't know if you realised but this is a really old thread. Why not start a new one? This is a very friendly site, mainly UK but lots from US too, all over in fact. Great to hear of your improvement after only 3 weeks without a cigarette. Onwards and upwards I hope!

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