eMJA: How safe are anticholinergics in patients with COPD?

Editorials

How safe are anticholinergics in patients with COPD?

Mark J Hew, Piersante Sestini and Louis B Irving

MJA 2009; 190 (9): 468-469

Guidance for clinicians on how to interpret conflicting evidence from recent studies

Patients with advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have profound functional impairment and increased mortality.1 Inhaled bronchodilators, including the anticholinergic agents tiotropium bromide and ipratropium bromide, relieve symptoms and improve lung function and quality of life. Tiotropium also reduces COPD exacerbations and hospitalisations.2

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