Indications
Aclidinium Bromide is an inhaled medicine used as a regular, long-term treatment to keep the airways open and ease breathing in adults with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema. It is a maintenance treatment and is not meant for sudden attacks of breathlessness.
How It Works
Aclidinium is a long-acting antimuscarinic bronchodilator. It blocks the action of acetylcholine, a natural chemical that makes the muscles around the airways tighten. When these muscles relax, the airways widen and air moves in and out of the lungs more easily, with an effect that lasts about 12 hours.
Dosage and Administration
The usual adult dose is one inhalation twice a day, morning and evening, using the inhaler device supplied, or as prescribed by your doctor. Follow the device instructions carefully. Do not swallow capsules meant for inhalation. Keep a separate quick-relief inhaler (such as Salbutamol) for sudden breathlessness.
Interactions
Avoid using it together with other antimuscarinic inhalers such as Tiotropium, Glycopyrronium or Umeclidinium, or with Ipratropium, as the effects and side effects add up. Other medicines with anticholinergic effects, such as some antihistamines, older antidepressants and bladder medicines, may increase dry mouth, constipation or urine retention.
Contraindications
- Allergy to Aclidinium Bromide or any ingredient of the product, including lactose (milk protein) in powder inhalers.
Side Effects
Common side effects include headache, a blocked or runny nose, sore throat, cough, diarrhoea and nausea. Less often, dry mouth, blurred vision, a fast heartbeat or difficulty passing urine may occur.
Get urgent medical help if you have sudden wheezing or tightness in the chest right after inhaling, swelling of the face, lips or throat, eye pain with blurred vision or halos around lights, a very fast or irregular heartbeat, or you cannot pass urine.
Pregnancy and Lactation
There is little information on use in pregnancy or breastfeeding. Use only if your doctor decides the benefit outweighs any possible risk.
Precautions and Warnings
- Not for the immediate relief of a sudden breathing attack.
- Tell your doctor if you have narrow-angle glaucoma, an enlarged prostate or bladder outflow problems, or a recent heart attack or heart rhythm problem.
- Do not stop it suddenly without speaking to your doctor; see your doctor if your breathing gets worse.
- Not intended for children or adolescents.
Overdose
Too much may cause dry mouth, blurred vision, a fast heartbeat and difficulty passing urine. Seek medical advice if you have used much more than prescribed.
Therapeutic Class
Long-acting muscarinic antagonist (LAMA) bronchodilator
Storage
Store below 30°C in a dry place, away from light and out of the reach of children. Keep the inhaler or capsules in their original pack until use.
Prepared by the Oshud Alo team from standard drug references. For information only; always follow your doctor's advice.