What is an important teaching for tiotropium?

What is an important teaching for tiotropium?

• A. It is safe to swallow the capsule.
• B. The capsule must be swallowed to access the medication.
• C. Do not swallow the capsule; the inhaler button must be pressed to disperse the drug.
• D. It should be taken with meals.

Answer: (C)

Tiotropium is given as an inhaled capsule that must reach the lungs to be effective. The capsule is not swallowed; you activate the inhaler to pierce and disperse the capsule, then inhale the resulting aerosol. Swallowing the capsule won’t deliver the medication and can cause GI irritation or choking. Meals don’t affect its administration, so it isn’t taken with food.

Tiotropium is given as an inhaled capsule that must reach the lungs to be effective. The capsule is not swallowed; you activate the inhaler to pierce and disperse the capsule, then inhale the resulting aerosol. Swallowing the capsule won’t deliver the medication and can cause GI irritation or choking. Meals don’t affect its administration, so it isn’t taken with food.