A long-acting antimuscarinic (LAMA) inhaler
Aclidinium
A twice-daily long-acting antimuscarinic (LAMA) maintenance inhaler that keeps the airways open in COPD; it is not a reliever inhaler for sudden breathlessness.
What is Aclidinium?
Aclidinium is a long-acting antimuscarinic (LAMA) inhaler used in the UK as a regular maintenance treatment for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It relaxes and keeps the airways open so breathing is easier, and is used twice a day every day. It is not a reliever inhaler for sudden breathlessness, so a separate fast-acting reliever is still needed for flare-ups.
Education and reference only. This is a plain-language guide to Aclidinium — it deliberately contains no doses. Doses depend on the person, the brand and the reason for treatment, and belong with your prescriber. Always check the BNF, the product labelling (SmPC) and follow medical advice.
What it is
Aclidinium is a long-acting antimuscarinic bronchodilator, often shortened to LAMA, taken as an inhaler. It is a regular, maintenance treatment for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) — the long-term lung condition that includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema, usually linked to smoking. Used every day, it helps keep the airways open so breathing is easier, breathlessness improves and flare-ups are less likely. It is not designed for sudden symptoms; people still keep a fast-acting reliever inhaler for those.
How it works
In COPD the airways are narrowed and tend to tighten. The nerve chemical acetylcholine acts on muscarinic receptors in the airway walls to make the surrounding muscle squeeze. Aclidinium blocks these receptors for a sustained period, so the airway muscle stays relaxed and the airways stay more open. Because the effect is long-acting, regular twice-daily use gives steady, day-long relief of airway tightening, which is how it improves breathing and reduces COPD flare-ups.
Company & origin
Originated / developed by: Developed by Almirall; the Eklira Genuair inhaler is marketed in the UK by AstraZeneca..
Aclidinium is a long-acting antimuscarinic (LAMA) inhaler developed by Almirall and used in the UK as a maintenance treatment for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
What it treats
Conditions Aclidinium is used for
Practical use
How to take Aclidinium
General, dose-free guidance — always follow your prescriber's and the leaflet's specific instructions.
- Use it regularly twice a day, every day, to keep your airways open — do not rely on it for sudden breathlessness.
- Keep a separate fast-acting reliever inhaler for sudden symptoms and flare-ups.
- Ask your nurse or pharmacist to check your inhaler technique, and use the device as shown so the dose reaches your lungs.
- Rinse your mouth if it feels dry after using it.
- Report eye pain, blurred vision, haloes around lights, or difficulty passing urine.
- If you miss a dose, take it when you remember unless it is nearly time for the next one — do not double up.
Weighing it up
Advantages & disadvantages of Aclidinium
Advantages
- It keeps the airways open through the day and helps reduce breathlessness in COPD.
- Regular use can reduce the frequency of COPD flare-ups.
- It is inhaled, so most of the medicine acts in the lungs with less reaching the rest of the body.
Disadvantages
- It is a maintenance inhaler only and does not relieve sudden breathlessness, so a separate reliever is still needed.
- It must be used regularly twice a day to work, and good inhaler technique is essential.
- As an antimuscarinic it can cause a dry mouth and is used cautiously in narrow-angle glaucoma and urinary problems.
Practical use
Good to know
Aclidinium is a maintenance inhaler, used twice a day, every day, to keep the airways open — not a reliever for sudden breathlessness, for which a separate fast-acting inhaler is needed. Getting the inhaler technique right matters, so ask your nurse or pharmacist to check it; the device usually shows when a dose has been taken properly. A dry mouth is the most common effect; rinsing the mouth helps. Because it is an antimuscarinic, it is used with care in narrow-angle glaucoma and in men with prostate enlargement or difficulty passing urine, and you should report eye pain, blurred vision or trouble passing urine.
Who should not take it / use with caution
- People allergic to aclidinium or the inhaler's other ingredients.
- Used with caution in people with narrow-angle (closed-angle) glaucoma.
- Used with caution in men with prostate enlargement or difficulty passing urine.
- Care in significant heart rhythm or heart problems.
Monitoring
- Review of breathing symptoms and COPD flare-up frequency
- Checking inhaler technique
- Watching for eye symptoms (glaucoma) and difficulty passing urine
Side effects
- Dry mouth is the most common.
- Headache, cough and cold-like symptoms or a sore throat.
- Rarely, blurred vision or eye pain (possible glaucoma) and difficulty passing urine — report these.
Key interactions
- Other antimuscarinic (anticholinergic) medicines, including some bladder, bowel and nausea treatments, add to dry mouth and other effects.
- It is generally not combined with another inhaled long-acting antimuscarinic.
- Tell your prescriber about all your medicines, including other inhalers.
Available as: Dry-powder inhaler.
Answers
Aclidinium: frequently asked questions
Is aclidinium a reliever inhaler?
No. Aclidinium is a long-acting maintenance inhaler used regularly twice a day to keep the airways open. It does not relieve sudden breathlessness, so you still need a separate fast-acting reliever inhaler for flare-ups.
How often do I use aclidinium?
It is used twice a day, every day, even when you feel well, because it works by keeping the airways open over time rather than treating symptoms as they happen.
Why does my mouth feel dry after using it?
A dry mouth is the most common effect of antimuscarinic inhalers like aclidinium. Rinsing your mouth after using it helps; tell your pharmacist if it is troublesome.
Can aclidinium affect my eyes?
Rarely, antimuscarinic inhalers can trigger or worsen narrow-angle glaucoma. Tell your prescriber if you have glaucoma, and report eye pain, blurred vision or seeing haloes around lights.
What is the difference between aclidinium and Eklira?
They are the same medicine — aclidinium (aclidinium bromide) is the active-ingredient name and Eklira (Eklira Genuair) is a brand name. Generic and brand contain the identical active ingredient.
The wider class
About Long-acting bronchodilators
Aclidinium belongs to the long-acting bronchodilators class. For how the class as a whole works, its shared safety principles and monitoring, see the full guide.
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Authoritative sources
- BNF: Aclidinium bromide.
- NICE CKS: COPD.
- electronic Medicines Compendium (SmPC): Eklira Genuair.
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