tiotropium vs umeclidinium
Side-by-side comparison of tiotropium and umeclidinium Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
Spiriva
Incruse Ellipta
STIOLTO RESPIMAT is a medicine that combines two drugs to help people with COPD breathe easier. It is used daily to keep airways open.
Incruse Ellipta is a medicine that helps people with COPD breathe easier. It contains umeclidinium, which is a long-acting muscarinic antagonist (LAMA).
STIOLTO RESPIMAT is used to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). COPD includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema. This medicine helps you breathe better over a long period. It is not for sudden breathing problems.
Incruse Ellipta is used to help people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) breathe better. COPD is a long-term lung disease that makes it hard to breathe. This medicine is not for sudden breathing problems or asthma.
This medicine contains two drugs that work in different ways. Tiotropium helps to relax the muscles around your airways, opening them up. Olodaterol also opens airways by relaxing airway muscles.
Incruse Ellipta works by relaxing the muscles around your airways. This helps to open up your airways so that air can flow into your lungs more easily. It makes it easier to breathe.
- • Common cold
- • Cough
- • Back pain
- • Sore throat
- • Sinus infection
- • Lower respiratory tract infection
- • Constipation
- • Diarrhea
- Using the medicine the wrong way 23,320
- Difficulty breathing 22,319
- Asthma 10,817
- Medicine not working 9,386
- Cough 8,611
- Difficulty breathing 1,352
- Medicine not working 752
- Cough 701
- Asthma 604
- Using the inhaler incorrectly 520
LABA medicines like the one in STIOLTO RESPIMAT can be dangerous for people with asthma if they don't also use an inhaled steroid medicine. Do not use STIOLTO RESPIMAT to treat sudden COPD symptoms. Using too much STIOLTO RESPIMAT can cause serious heart problems and may be fatal. If you have a bad reaction, like swelling or trouble breathing, stop using STIOLTO RESPIMAT right away.
Incruse Ellipta is not for treating asthma. Do not use Incruse Ellipta if you are allergic to milk proteins or any of the ingredients in the inhaler. Talk to your doctor right away if you have new or worsening eye problems or problems passing urine.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if STIOLTO RESPIMAT will harm your unborn baby. Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of using this medicine during pregnancy.
Not enough information is available to know if Incruse Ellipta is safe to use during pregnancy. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.
Also Compare — Nearby Drugs
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How to Read This tiotropium vs umeclidinium Comparison
tiotropium is classified in the Long-Acting Muscarinic Antagonist (LAMA) drug class, while umeclidinium sits within the Long-Acting Muscarinic Antagonist (LAMA) class. Because both drugs share the same classification, they are often considered interchangeable in theory — but clinical outcomes rarely track that cleanly. Both drugs are prescription-only, so a licensed provider must authorize use.
Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, tiotropium has 74,453 submissions while umeclidinium has 3,929. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume — not per-patient risk — so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. No direct interaction between these two drugs is listed in our FDA-derived dataset, though co-prescription still warrants pharmacist review. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.
A table cannot substitute for clinical judgment. Effectiveness, tolerability, drug-drug interactions with your other medications, kidney and liver function, pregnancy status, insurance formulary, and price all feed into a decision that only a licensed prescriber can make responsibly. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This page is for educational purposes only, is not medical advice, and should not be used to self-switch between tiotropium and umeclidinium — always consult your physician or pharmacist first.
Important: This comparison is for informational purposes only. Drug effects vary between individuals. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized medical advice.