The usual…
Boehringer Ingelheim and FDA notified healthcare professionals that ongoing safety monitoring has identified a possible increased risk of stroke in patients who take Spiriva. This product contains tiotropium bromide and is used to treat bronchospasm associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Boehringer Ingelheim reported to the FDA that it has conducted an analysis of the safety data from 29 placebo controlled clinical studies (“pooled analysis”). Based on data from these studies, the preliminary estimates of the risk of stroke are 8 patients per 1000 patients treated for one year with Spiriva, and 6 patients per 1000 patients treated for one year with placebo. This means that the estimated excess risk of any type of stroke due to Spiriva is 2 patients for each 1000 patients using Spiriva over a one year period.
Well, it might bother us. But, as over 50% of my patients who use Spiriva still smoke, I’m not sure they’d be too worried about a 0.2 in 100 chance of a stroke.
Then again last week I did have a smoker tell me that she was worried about food additives giving her cancer…….you couldn’t make it up.