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Janet Ward Black, Attorney at Law

Spiriva and Atrovent

The Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA) recently identified Spiriva and Atrovent as the sources of numerous strokes and heart attacks in individuals with Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (COPD).

COPD patients who take these medications increase their risk of heart attack by 53 percent, according to the study the journal cites. These statistics were published by Dr. Sonal Singh, an assistant professor of internal medicine at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston Salem, NC. He was the lead author of the paper published in the September 24, 2008 edition of JAMA.

The longer these medications are used it appears the greater the risk of dying from cardiovascular related events.  Dr. Singh stated that nearly one in 40 patients who use Spiriva or Atrovent for a year may die and another one in 174 may suffer heart attacks.

Sprivia received FDA approval in 2004 as the first inhaled once daily treatment for COPD.  Spiriva was discovered by Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and co-promoted by Pfizer, Inc. in the United States.

Atrovent is also made by Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals.

If you or a loved one has suffered a heart attack or stroke while using either Spiriva or Atrovent, please contact our office at 1-800-531-9191 for a free consultation or contact us via email.

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