Compare Spiriva Handihaler vs. Xopenex

Spiriva (tiotropium) and levalbuterol (Xopenex) are both inhaled medications used to help with breathing problems, but they work differently and are used for different purposes. Spiriva is a long-acting muscarinic antagonist (LAMA) that helps control chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma by relaxing the muscles in your airways. Spiriva Respimat is a metered-dose inhaler, while Spiriva Handihaler is an inhaler that requires you to place a capsule of the medication into the device before using it. Both are typically used once a day, but only Spiriva HandiHaler is available in a generic form. On the other hand, levalbuterol is a short-acting beta agonist (SABA) that treats sudden wheezing or shortness of breath in people with asthma. It works quickly, usually within minutes, and is used three times a day with a nebulizer. Levalbuterol is also available as a lower-cost generic. While Spiriva is not a rescue inhaler and takes time to show effects, levalbuterol acts fast to relieve acute symptoms. Both medications have side effects, but they differ; for example, Spiriva can cause dry mouth and upper respiratory infections, while levalbuterol can cause headaches and runny nose.