Tiotropium bromide: a long-acting anticholinergic bronchodilator for the treatment of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Prevention and relief of symptoms by regular use of bronchodilators is central to the management of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The bronchodilators in use are beta2-agonists, anticholinergics and theophylline. Since the 1970s the anticholinergic ipratropium bromide has been widely used for the treatment of patients with regular symptoms, but because it has a relatively short duration of action, it needs to be administered four times a day. Tiotropium bromide is a long-acting anticholinergic suitable for once daily administration. It has been developed as a dry powder inhaler for the treatment of patients with COPD. Large clinical trials with administration of the drug for one year have now been published. Compared with placebo and ipratopium bromide, significant and long-lasting bronchodilatation was observed, which was maintained over the year. The bronchodilator effect of tiotropium bromide was accompanied by improvements in other health outcomes. A significant decrease in dyspnoea, improvement in health-related quality of life, and a reduction in the number of COPD exacerbations and hospitalisations were noted. In this review we summarise the clinical development of this compound.