I'm quite interested in this, too. My physician just started me on it Monday, although to my reading, I'm the "wrong" type of COPD to have it (I've never been hospitalized for my COPD, no day is worse than others), and since I quit smoking cough is pretty much limited to occasional allergy-related. Considering all the charming side effects, I'm hoping he knows a little something more than what I've been able to dig up (although one source said it may be the anti-inflammatory effect in general). My MD started me every other day for two weeks to try to mitigate the symptoms a little, so needless to say I'm not feeling miraculously better yet (although he also started me with a prednisone taper, too, so if there is no improvement, I don't know how we'll tell which helped, unless I regress once off the prednisone).

There's a member named Sue who is using it. I tried it, but was making me lose too much weight. It's supposedly for people with chronic bronchitis or that component of your COPD. I'd try it if that's your case & don't have to worry about losing weight. It sounds like a promising new drug :>)

After two copd exacerbations...lately...both...hospitalized...All new to me...came home with predosyn, daliresp, anibitoc.etc...etc...for someone who does not like to take any drugs....took myself off of the daliresp because of side effects...have not given up ...but there has to be somekind of supplements...treatments...diet....that will help....get back to the gym...fishing...gardening...etc....I was given Daliresp to help with any furture exacerbations.....Will keep you posted...

The losing weight part is the side effect of it I'm looking forward to; being sedentary has taken a toll, But I myself don't really have a bronchitis component, which is why I was a little puzzled by receiving it (LOL but I think the drug rep is the hot young thing I saw leaving his office wheeling a case and suspect all his COPD patients will be getting Darinesp, lack of exacerbations and/or bronchitis be damned!).

Did it seem to be helping until you had to give it up for the weight loss or had it not had a chance to prove itself yet?

To Moon: How long were you on before the side effects started to bother you? Most of the postings I read implied it was immediate, and other than some screwed up sleep (which could be related to some life stressors, doggy bed hogs, and delayed adjustments to time change), I've not had a problem with the two pills I've taken so far.

I took 5 pills...one a day....diarrhea and leg cramps on the second day...

I started taking this in November after having been hospitalized twice for a serious lung infection most of the Autumn. If you can stand the side effects, and they are real, this is a wonderful drug! Personally, I love it! The first thing you'll notice is diarrhea. Since I also happen to take opiate pain killers for another problem, that wasn't too bad of a problem for me. But you'll also notice a sharp reduction in appetite. I was taking this during both Thanksgiving and Christmas, and I never pigged out, and in fact couldn't clean my plate. I make sure to eat a balanced diet, but I've reduced the portion sizes. If I overeat, I'll feel a bit queasy. But usually, the medication won't let me overeat.

I hear that the side effect to really pay attention to is depression and/or suicidal ideation. If you get this, Call your doctor asap, and stop taking the pills! I was lucky to never have that problem.

Since I started taking Daliresp, I've lost 17 lbs. I'm thrilled, because I've been struggling with weight gain because of all the steroids us COPDers take. I could stand to lose another 50, but I don't know if that will happen.

My pulmo wanted me to be able to cut down my nebulizer use (and stay out of the hospital!). Typically, I would have 3-4 nebulizer treatments of Albuterol every day. Nowadays, I usually have either one treatment, or none at all. I've gone as long as 3 days between neb treatments! That's miraculous!

I would say, that if you can stand the side effects, give it about 6 weeks, and then see how you're doing. I think the side effects will diminish with time. I know that my weight loss has slowed way down.

Also, make sure that you have the Chronic Bronchitis variety of COPD. If you just have Emphysema, then it won't work on you. I happen to have both varieties.

I hope at least some of you can take this, because it can really help, and it was a medication specifically developed for COPD. It not an asthma drug.

Hugs, Sue

Thanks for the info, Sue. To my knowledge, I strictly present as an emphysematous COPD'er and had one ER visit 6 years ago for an exacerbation. During one of my Google searches, I did find one entry where in something of an off-label use there are some that believe that current and former smokers *MUST* have bronchitis whether they present with the symptoms or not, and therefore merit a trial.

I will say that the depression aspect scares me and was what really raised my eyebrow. I had spent that office crying because I felt so limited/isolated/hopeless, so it would not seem that this would be a good choice for me, especially given that I live alone in a very rural area and will maybe speak to another human once every 2-3 weeks. I'd better tell the dogs to keep an extra close eye on me or double my Ativan.

Welcome Moon and Dani

I see Sue has answered this thread about Daliresp, good one Sue, here is the thread Sue posted previously if any one is interested reading further:

http://www.dailystrength.org/c/COPD_Emphysema/forum/13651060-daliresp-helping-me

Its worth noting Dani that although possible side affects are always mentioned with these drugs not everyone will experience them.

I'd just talk over any fears with your doc and see what course of action he/she recommends should you encounter any difficulty.

How are you getting on with daliresp now Dani and Moon?

Looking forward to reading any feed back from any one who is experiencing daliresp first hand.

Have an easy breathing day everyone.

Peta

My mother (77 years old) has severe COPD with emphysema and bronchitis. Her saturation level was down to 94% at her last visit, so the doctor prescribed Daliresp for her. He is amazed that she has not had more exacerbations and has not been hospitalized for this problem in several years. Anyway, she is not tolerating the drug well...headaches, fever, loss of appetite...pretty much every side effect listed on the insert except for suicide ideation. She's only been taking it for 5 days, so my question is, do the side effects level out? She wants to stop the drug, but if there is hope that she will adjust, I want to encourage her to continue with it. Thanks for any feedback.

Sandy, I hope your Mom will be able to stick with the drug for a while. I was told, and can verify it with my own experience, that the side effects become more tolerable after about 6 weeks. Things kind of stabilize after that.

My only question for you would be can she tolerate the weight loss? Many people with COPD are very thin already, and if that's the case then this probably isn't the drug for her. But if she could stand to lose some weight, then it will help her. Try to make sure that she keeps eating, but with small portions of all the food groups. She may need to have 5-6 small meals instead to the usual three.

Good luck!
Hugs, Sue

Thank you, Sue. She's lost 40+ lbs. in the past year, so this might a concern for her. She's not too thin now, but she definitely doesn't need to lose anymore weight. She's 5'5" and weighs 140.

I will pass along your input. Thanks so much!

Sandy

Sue....Thanks for the reply....Will give it another try...

Moonsky

Good luck, Moonsky...and sorry about highjacking your thread. :-)

Moonsky. No wish to put a downer on your day but I think that a lot of us search for, and strive to, find a way back to the past and its activities.In reality the prospects are not good, this disease is progressive and has to be accepted as such.

That is not to say that improvements in daily living can not be achieved.
The difficulty is in sorting out which achievements are realistic and which are not.

Wishing you all the best.