Tudorza Pressair
Tudorza Pressair (aclidinium) is a long-acting muscarinic antagonist (LAMA) inhaler. It's used as maintenance treatment for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in adults. The typical dose is 1 inhalation (400 mcg of aclidinium) inhaled through the mouth twice per day. Side effects include headache and common cold symptoms.
What is Tudorza Pressair (aclidinium)?
What is Tudorza Pressair (aclidinium) used for?
- Maintenance treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in adults
How Tudorza Pressair (aclidinium) works
Tudorza Pressair (aclidinium) is a long-acting muscarinic antagonist (LAMA), a type of anticholinergic medication. It works by blocking a chemical called acetylcholine to relax the muscles in your airways.
Drug facts
Side effects of Tudorza Pressair (aclidinium)
The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.
Common Side Effects
- Headache (7%)
- Common cold (6%)
- Cough (3%)
Less Common Side Effects
- Diarrhea
- Sinus inflammation
- Stuffy nose
- Toothache
- Vomiting
Tudorza Pressair (aclidinium) serious side effects
Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.
- Serious allergic reaction: hives, swelling of your face, lips, or tongue, difficulty breathing
- Sudden narrowing of your airways: difficulty breathing, wheezing, chest pain or tightness, cough
The following Tudorza Pressair (aclidinium) side effects have also been reported
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:
Less common
Bladder pain
bloody or cloudy urine
body aches or pain
chills
difficult, burning, or painful urination
difficulty in breathing
dry throat
ear congestion
fainting
fast, pounding, or irregular heartbeat or pulse
frequent urge to urinate
hoarseness
loss of voice
lower back or side pain
tender, swollen glands in the neck
tightness in the chest
trouble in swallowing
voice changes
Rare
Chest discomfort
difficulty with moving
dilated neck veins
extreme tiredness or weakness
flushed, dry skin
fruit-like breath odor
increased hunger
increased thirst
loss of consciousness
muscle pain or stiffness
pain, swelling, or redness in the joints
slow or irregular heartbeat
stomachache
sweating
swelling of the face, fingers, feet, or lower legs
unexplained weight loss
Incidence not known
Blindness
blurred vision
burning while urinating
decrease in the frequency of urination
decrease in urine volume
difficulty in passing urine (dribbling)
dizziness
large, hive-like swelling on the face, eyelids, lips, tongue, throat, hands, legs, feet, or genitals
puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue
tearing
vomiting
Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
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Pros and cons of Tudorza Pressair (aclidinium)
Pros
- Works well to maintain control of COPD symptoms and prevent COPD attacks
- Ready for use, and you don't have to load any medication into the inhaler
- The inhaler device changes color from green to red to tell you that the medication was inhaled correctly
Cons
- Inhaled twice daily
- Can worsen urinary retention; not a good choice for people who have trouble urinating
- Contains lactose; not for people with severe allergy to milk proteins
Pharmacist tips for Tudorza Pressair (aclidinium)
- Use Tudorza Pressair (aclidinium) twice per day about 12 hours apart. Use the medication every day for it to work well to prevent COPD flare ups.
- Use a rescue inhaler such as albuterol (Ventolin) if you have worsening symptoms of COPD. Tudorza Pressair (aclidinium) won't work to treat sudden trouble breathing.
- Call your pulmonologist if your breathing or peak flow meter results worsen. Also contact your pulmonologist if you're using your rescue inhaler more often than usual. These could be signs that you need another long-acting medication to help manage your COPD.
- Let your care team know about all of the medications you're taking, especially if you're taking other anticholinergic medications, such as tolterodine (Detrol) or hyoscyamine. Taking more than one anticholinergic raises your risk for side effects (e.g., dry mouth, constipation, trouble urinating).
- Store Tudorza Pressair (aclidinium) at room temperature in a dry place away from heat or sunlight. Don't place the inhaler on vibrating surfaces. Keep unused inhalers in the original foil pouch. Once removed from the pouch, the inhaler is good for 45 days. Write down the new expiration date on the label that's on the inhaler.
How to use Tudorza Pressair (aclidinium):
- You don't need to prime or shake the Tudorza Pressair (aclidinium) inhaler before using it.
- When it's time for a dose, hold the Tudorza Pressair (aclidinium) inhaler horizontally with the mouthpiece facing you and the green button on top. Press the green button to load the dose and release it. When you do this, the control window changes from red to green. If it's still red, ensure you're completing the steps to prepare the dose correctly.
- After the dose is prepared, hold the Tudorza Pressair (aclidinium) inhaler away from your mouth, but keeping it upright without tilting it. Breathe out completely and then close your lips tightly around the mouthpiece of the inhaler. Don't touch the green button.
- Take a strong and deep breath and breathe in for as long as you comfortably can. A "click" will let you know that you're inhaling correctly. The control window will turn red, which means you've inhaled the dose correctly.
- After you inhale the dose, try to hold your breath for as long as you comfortably can. This allows the medication to reach deep into your lungs.
- Never wash the Tudorza Pressair (aclidinium) inhaler with water or any liquid. Instead, clean the mouthpiece every once in a while by wiping it with a dry cloth. Just make sure you don't get water or moisture on or near the inhaler. Moisture can make the dry powder medication clump together and clog the inhaler.
Common questions about Tudorza Pressair
No, Tudorza Pressair isn't a steroid; it's a bronchodilator known as a long-acting muscarinic antagonist (LAMA). Both inhaled corticosteroids and LAMAs can be used to help with COPD, but they work in different ways. Inhaled corticosteroids help you breathe better by lowering inflammation in the airways, whereas LAMAs do so by relaxing the muscles in your airways. Your pulmonologist might prescribe an inhaled steroid in addition to Tudorza Pressair if your COPD symptoms aren't well-controlled with Tudorza Pressair alone.
Both Spiriva (tiotropium) and Tudorza Pressair are inhaled long-acting muscarinic antagonists (LAMAs) approved for the maintenance treatment of COPD. But Spiriva (tiotropium) can also be used for asthma. Additionally, Spiriva (tiotropium) is inhaled once per day whereas Tudorza Pressair is inhaled twice per day. Studies show both medications work similarly well in treating COPD. Speak to your pulmonologist if you have specific questions on the differences between both medications.
Your healthcare professional might prescribe Symbicort (budesonide / formoterol) with Tudorza Pressair. Both medications manage COPD in different ways. Symbicort is made up of an inhaled corticosteroid (budesonide) and long acting beta-agonist or LABA (formoterol). Tudorza Pressair contains a long-acting muscarinic antagonist or LAMA (aclidinium). Triple therapy with a LAMA, ICS, and LABA is recommended for certain people who still have COPD symptoms even though they're taking Tudorza Pressair.
There are two different sizes of Tudorza Pressair inhaler. Depending on the size, the inhaler contains either 30 or 60 puffs (inhalations), which lasts about 2 to 4 weeks since the medication is used twice per day. Use the dose indicator on the inhaler to help keep track of how many inhalations you have left. When a red band appears on the inhaler, that means the inhaler is close to being empty; this is when you should ask your pharmacist or prescriber for a refill.
Tudorza Pressair works within about 30 minutes to help you breathe easier. But it doesn't work quickly enough to ease a COPD flare up. This inhaler is meant to be used twice daily for the maintenance treatment of COPD and to prevent COPD exacerbations.
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Risks and warnings for Tudorza Pressair (aclidinium)
Tudorza Pressair (aclidinium) can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Not a rescue inhaler
Don't use Tudorza Pressair (aclidinium) if you're experiencing trouble breathing from a COPD flare up because this medication won't provide immediate relief. Use a rescue inhaler, such as albuterol (Ventolin HFA), if you're having trouble breathing.
If you're using your rescue inhaler more often than usual, let your pulmonologist know because this could be a sign that your condition is getting worse. Don't use more doses Tudorza Pressair (aclidinium) than recommended because this won't improve your breathing. Rather, this can raise your risk for serious side effects, such as heart problems, tremors, and dizziness.
Narrowing of your airways (bronchospasm)
Inhaled medications, including Tudorza Pressair (aclidinium), can sometimes cause a muscle spasm in your lungs. This can lead to difficulty breathing, wheezing, cough, and chest discomfort. If you have a hard time breathing after inhaling Tudorza Pressair (aclidinium), use your rescue inhaler and get medical attention right away.
Serious allergic reactions
- Risk factors: Allergy to milk proteins (lactose)
Severe allergic reactions to Tudorza Pressair (aclidinium) are possible, including life-threatening reactions like facial swelling, shock, and anaphylaxis (closing of the throat). Get medical attention right away if you notice hives, rash, red skin, swelling of the lips or tongue, or difficulty breathing after using Tudorza Pressair (aclidinium).
Worsening narrow-angle glaucoma
- Risk factors: Long-term use of Tudorza Pressair (aclidinium) | History of glaucoma | History of high eye pressure
Although rare, Tudorza Pressair (aclidinium) can raise the pressure in your eyes and worsen symptoms of glaucoma. Talk to your optometrist before using Tudorza Pressair (aclidinium) if you have glaucoma because they might ask you to come in more often for eye exams. Also speak with them if you notice any changes to your vision while using the medication.
Trouble urinating
- Risk factors: Enlarged prostate | Bladder-neck obstruction (blockage)
Tudorza Pressair (aclidinium) should be used cautiously by people who have prostate problems or urinary retention, because it can worsen these conditions and lead to difficulty urinating. Contact your prescriber if you notice difficulty urinating while using this medication.
Tudorza Pressair (aclidinium) dosage
Inhaler| Dosage | Quantity | Price as low as | Price per unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60 doses of 400mcg | 1 inhaler | $300.25 | $300.25 |
| 30 doses of 400mcg | 1 inhaler | $265.45 | $265.45 |
Typical dosage for Tudorza Pressair (aclidinium)
Each puff of Tudorza Pressair delivers 400 mcg of aclidinium.
Adults: The typical dose is 1 inhalation by mouth twice per day (about 12 hours apart).
Interactions between Tudorza Pressair (aclidinium) and other drugs
Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
- Amifampridine
- Bupropion
- Clozapine
- Donepezil
- Glucagon
- Glycopyrrolate
- Glycopyrronium Tosylate
- Methacholine
- Quetiapine
- Revefenacin
- Scopolamine
- Secretin Human
- Tiotropium
How much does Tudorza Pressair (aclidinium) cost?
$265.45
Tudorza Pressair (aclidinium) contraindications
Contraindications are specific health conditions or situations in which a person should not take a medication due to safety concerns. If you have any of the following conditions or if any of the following apply to you, let your healthcare provider know because Tudorza Pressair (aclidinium) will not be safe for you to take.
- Allergy to lactose or milk proteins
What are alternatives to Tudorza Pressair (aclidinium)?
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