Tiotropium - new agent in asthma therapy

Tiotropium represents the only long-acting antimuscarinic drug registered for the treatment of asthma. The latest 2015 GINA guidelines recommend tiotropium as a second-line treatment in adult patients with asthma at step 4 and 5, in whom the disease is not well managed despite current therapy (>= 800 mu g of budesonide and LABA) and who therefore experience frequent exacerbations. Numerous clinical trials proved that tiotropium improves lung function, prolongs the exacerbation-free period and decreases the number of exacerbations (31% decrease vs placebo) in asthma patients. Respimat soft mist inhaler guarantees high lung deposition of tiotropium. In conclusion, tiotropium may be considered an interesting alternative as adjunctive therapy for asthma patients who remain uncontrolled despite current treatment.