Mark & Associates, P.C. Attorneys At Law

Spiriva HandiHaler Linked to Increased Risk of Heart Attack and Stroke

The Spiriva HandiHaler, used to treat breathing problems in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), has been shown to dramatically increase the risk of heart attack and cardiovascular death. A Wake Forest University medical study released in September 2008 showed that tiotropium bromide, the active ingredient in the Spiriva HandiHaler, resulted in a 53 percent increased risk of heart attack, an 80 percent greater risk of cardiovascular death, and a 46 percent increased risk of stroke.

If you or a loved one used the Spiriva HandiHaler and suffered a heart attack, stroke, or cardiovascular death, you may have rights. You should speak with a qualified lawyer from Mark & Associates, P.C. as quickly as possible to ensure that your legal rights are protected. Mark & Associates, P.C. represents people across the United States who have been injured by dangerous drugs. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to discuss your case. Contact us today by submitting the case inquiry form on our website or by calling 1-866-50- RIGHTS (1-866-507-4448).

What is the Spiriva HandiHaler?

The Spiriva HandiHaler is a maintenance bronchodilator that uses the active ingredient tiotropium bromide to reopen narrowed airways in the lungs to help improve breathing in patients with COPD. It was FDA-approved in 2004 and is not intended to treat sudden breathing spasms (bronchospasm). It has been used by millions of people worldwide.

Recent University Study Links Spiriva HandiHaler to Increased Health Risks

In September 2008, a study conducted by Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, N.C. found a link between the Spiriva HandiHaler and a greatly increased risk of heart attack, stroke, and cardiovascular death. The study focused on patients who took the inhaler for a month.

The researchers pooled data from 17 international studies involving 14,783 people and compared the health risks for people who used the Spiriva HandiHaler and a similar drug called Atrovent to treat COPD symptoms to risks for people who took other inhaled medications for the condition.

The study found people who took the Spiriva HandiHaler or Atrovent had an elevated risk of heart attack, stroke, and cardiovascular death when compared to people taking the generic drug albuterol, salmeterol (marketed by GlaxoSmithKline Plcas Serevent), or the combination of fluticasone and salmeterol (marketed by Glaxo as Advair), or a placebo.

Free Legal Consultation

If you or a loved one was prescribed the Spiriva HandiHaler for COPD or another cardiovascular condition and suffered a heart attack, stroke, or other cardiovascular disease, it is important to speak with a qualified personal injury lawyer as soon as possible. Recent medical research has linked the Spiriva HandiHaler to increased health risks. The experienced, aggressive attorneys at Mark & Associates, P.C. represent people injured by dangerous drugs. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to discuss your case. Contact us today by submitting the case inquiry form on our website or by calling 1-866-50- RIGHTS (1-866-507-4448).