Speaking of duds....has anyone swallowed one instead of inhaling it? Felt very silly when I called the pharmacist to make sure it wouldn't do odd things to my body ingesting it that way.

Wonder if enough people wrote Spiriva if they would do something about it. It seems to be a common problem.

Yes, I was dumb enough to swallow one. Took it with all my other pills.
Duh? Not using Spiriva, now, because I can not afford it added to the cost of all my other medications.

You must be careful when your pushing in the needles.Look in the little window view when pushing in the needles and do it carefully.
The noise should be a rattle sound when inhaling the medicine.
And like many others you never really know if you have a empty capsule or a good one.

I don't think the capsules are ever empty. The sound doesn't always happen. Sometimes there's no sound. These manufacturers have quality control so that it would be extremely odd if any were empty. They probably even weigh the capsules before they seal them in the individual packets. Really, I do believe worrying about "empty" capsules is unnecessary. As for swallowing the capsules, the directions explicitly say not to, and that should have been verbally explained to you as well.

The Handihaler can be reused as it can be washed by hand. It has to be totally dry before the next use. I always save the old one until I try the new one. I have found a few of the needles that puncture the capsule to have a bur and you don't get a clean puncture. FYI, a bur is a sharp distortion on the end of the needle.

As happens in other inhaled drugs, the majority of the delivered dose is deposited in the gastrointestinal tract and to a lesser extent in the lungs so in order for our lungs to receive any of the powder it has to have the exact amount of powder. Doesn't ' necessarily mean that each capsule does though.

I can see how someone would swallow one. There are so many things going on in our bodies that a momentary distraction could mean us popping it in our mouth instead oof the handihaler.

Could be that we got lucky and that one didn't have medication. LOL

PS. I have also read in the Phizer PDF on spiriva that if you don't hear the "whoosh"or the rattle when inhaling, notify your doctor.

So that indicates that there could be a possibility of medicine not being delivered as it should.

I've heard the same thing regarding the whoosh or rattle - it's my understanding the whole idea behind those sounds is to let you know you are receiving the medication, though I don't know what is behind Phizer's thinking about notifying your doctor. Doesn't seem like he could do much other than prescribe another medication - or does he collect the unusable ones and send them back for a refund? :o).

For myself, if I don't hear that whoosh or rattle, I use another capsule. Of course, this shortens my supply for the month. I believe Spriva should solve the problem and make compensation for unusable ones. If you could count up all the capsules paid for but defunct, increasing our need to resupply, it could be a nice little cash cow for Phizer.

P.S. When I swallowed mine, it was before morning coffee....note to self: wake up before medicating. With my luck, it was probably a good one! LOL

I thought "notifying your doctor" was sort of strange too. I can just see me calling to tell my doctor that I didn't hear a 'whoosh or rattle"

Joni, when you swallowed it did you hear the"whoosh or rattle" LOL

You just cut out the middle man (lungs) and went straight to the destination.

I have been on spirivia at least 8 years and I to will keep the old one until I see how the new handi works..Like some one mentioned sometimes you get one that have burrs on the needle.
The sound all comes down to how the capsule gets punched by the needles.You must push the needles slowly and once u hear the capsule pierce dont push any farther. Once I use it and take the capsule out I look at the capsule to see how the holes look after being used and punched.
I have had empty capsules many times and it does shorten the supply u need for the month when that happens and u have to use another one

Good Luck everyone using this..

The Endeavor Was Not a Spriva Capsule

I've punctured fast,
I've punctured slow,
I've punctured
until my face started to glow.

I put the lid up
I put the lid down
and it's becoming an art
this saving of parts

but, the best delivery
I've found
to meet the capsule's goal
was to just hold my nose
and swallow it whole!

That made me smile thanks now I'm laughing

jamsnjazzy - poetry, yet. Funny! As I've mentioned earlier ( I never had a problem with the capsule) my problem has always been with the handihaler. I suggest before you toss the capsule, try your "backup" handihaler - of course before you call the doctor! Which reminds me - all this calling the doctor stuff must relate to a time eons ago. It's not as frequently warranted as some of the meds, health issues promote. I don't know about you, but unless it's an emergency, calling my doctor to chat is not on his calendar - the precautioners make it sound like (s)he's at our beck and call..

Why don't they put Spiriva in a clear capsule so we can see that it has the medication inside?