Generic Name: Daliresp for COPD (roflumilast)
"Daliresp has been life changing for me. I have COPD stage 2, but am prone to repeat exacerbations, and by repeat I mean one after another. This went on for 2 years, then my pulmonologist told me about Daliresp. I decided to try it, despite his warnings that some people have side effects that make them stop taking it, such as severe diarrhea and weight loss, etc. I was one of the lucky ones and had almost no side effects. It’s been a year now, and my quality of life is so much better! I’m not continuously dealing with exacerbations anymore. I’ve gone from 8-10 a year to 1-2 a year, and for me it feels like a miracle. I was so depressed about how fast my COPD was worsening that I felt like I’d be gone in just a few years. I now have hope and a drastically slowed progression of this disease. I went from stage 1 to stage 2 in a year and a half. Since taking Daliresp, I’ve remained stable for a year now. I feel that this med is buying life, time, and quality of life."
"Started a year ago. Had problems at first. Started taking it every other day and then every day after a month. I have never been sick since. Not even a cold. My husband had pneumonia for 2 months, coughing all over the place. I am not vaccinated and never got sick. Give this drug a chance. It has really helped me."
"I have severe COPD and started taking Daliresp approximately 2 years ago. My pulmonologist suggested Daliresp as I was experiencing frequent exacerbations requiring 2 to 3 hospitalizations a year. I am taking 2 different inhalers a day and on 4% oxygen 24/7. For the past 2 years I have been hospital free! Yay! I wish the Daliresp wasn't so expensive or a generic were available, but then again no hospitalizations (which is the last place a sick person should be)."
"Medicine took water weight of 24 lb immediately and another 9 lb in the next 2 weeks. Helped my breathing almost immediately. Was nauseous for 6 months, however I took the med at night to sleep through nausea. Have used for 1 1/2 years and no more side effects. Does help keep swelling to a minimum in entire body."
"Been on it for 13 days and I can tell a BIG DIFFERENCE. THIS IS GREAT. Had a few side effects: headache, can't sleep sometimes, but I can deal with that better than not breathing...this is a wonder pill. There is a big, big difference in taking this pill."
"I have taken Daliresp for 6 months. The first month I had pretty bad diarrhea, but it has slacked off over the last couple of months. I have lost 10 lbs. Which is great..lol. It does seem to let me breathe easier. I have not had a bad cold or bronchitis since I started taking Daliresp. I get it straight from the pharmaceutical company. Otherwise, I would not be able to afford it."
"I have been taking Daliresp for 6 years and haven't had another bout with bronchitis since I've started taking it. Before starting it, I had bronchitis every winter and spent a week in the hospital each time."
"I have been on this medication for approximately one month. When I first began taking this medication (500 mcg), I was having numerous side effects. I changed the regimen to taking 500 mcg every other day. I continued to have the same side effects. For the past two weeks, I have been taking half the dosage (250 mcg) once at night and once in the morning. This has virtually eliminated all the previous side effects. My breathing has improved much better and more consistently with this lower dosage. The 500 mcg pills are so small that it is impossible to divide a tablet without a good pill cutter. I found one on Amazon that works great. Perfect split of the 500 mcg pill each time."
"Daliresp is great. Although taking the 500 mcg was a bit too much for me, it made me feel too lightheaded. I started splitting it in half and it seems to work well for me now. It does give me energy and opens up my lungs. I have also lost some weight since using it. It does give me diarrhea, but it's not severe. I take each half of the pill 12 hours apart. That seems to work really well for my lungs and I feel good. I have very severe COPD. I started using oxygen, 2 liters continuous, on March 1, 2017. The Daliresp and oxygen seem to work very well together. Most of the side effects go away after some time. I found that a good diet of fiber, fruits, veggies, and low fat sure helps alleviate the side effects. Get rid of the salt too."
"Prior to taking Daliresp - had to take inhalers every day (always before exercising, occasionally just to breathe normally), frequent lung infections (3-4 per year). Felt like I had a lung infection once again when the doctor prescribed this med instead of the typical antibiotics and prednisone. After taking Daliresp - felt much better in a few days, no longer need to take inhalers (only 1x in the last 30 days) and exercising (jogging and weights) almost every day. Big improvement. Only downside - occasional headaches, maybe 3-4 times per week that go away after a couple of Advil. Overall, big improvement in quality of life."
"I started with a sample from my doctor. After using daliresp, I didn't notice any change in my breathing. After only 4 days, I realized I didn't use my nebulizer as much. I can't believe this little pill could help so much. Bravo. Only problem, I won't be able to get another prescription due to the high co-pay. What a shame. I do recommend this medication highly."
"This medication is wonderful. I just wish I could afford it. I recently got health insurance, and it cost $250.00 a month, and I was getting samples from my doctor when they had them, which I know if I took it on a regular basis, it would make me feel a hundred times better. It's great and keeps me out of the hospital!"
"I used to have exacerbations regularly after finishing a dose of prednisone. Began taking Daliresp a year and a half ago and have not had one since. The only side effect I had was a week's worth of very loose bowel movements when I first began. A great medicine."
"My husband had been having multiple hospitalizations, 9 in 10 months, once on a respirator for COPD exacerbations. His pulmonologist put him on Daliresp, and I must say I am very impressed. He has not had a flare-up in 3 months, and his breathing seems to stabilize. He does get headaches, but it is something that, as he says, he is willing to deal with if it means a more normal life."
"Wow, this pill has helped my father big time. He has been on it since August of 2011 and no exacerbation since then. My father had 3 of them last winter, but thanks to this product, none since he's been taking it. His doctor also said that it would take a while to kick in, however so far so good and he claims that he can breathe better."
"I have been on this only a short time with no side effects and my breathing has improved so much. I believe I can shortly be taken off of prednisone for the first time in 30 months using this along with Brovana and budesonide. No need to say I am thrilled. Now just need to get my insurance to help pay for this."
"Been on Daliresp for 11 months. No weight loss or stomach issues. Has greatly improved shortness of breath and no bronchitis flare-ups. Before Daliresp, you could count on at least 3 to 4 flare-ups per year."
"I have been taking this medication for 12 days now. Sometimes I have diarrhea the morning after I take it, sometimes I don't. I have had a headache for five of those days. Sometimes I get extremely nauseated after I take it, but it passes in about an hour. Sometimes I sweat. The first few days I felt like my breathing was better. Now, I'm not so sure. I have lost 7 pounds in 12 days. This medication suppresses your appetite and for me totally took away my craving for sweets. A good thing I guess, as long as I don't lose over about 15 lbs."
"Been taking Daliresp for about a year. It has definitely helped my breathing. I am diagnosed with severe COPD. This medicine, and twice daily nebulizing with Brovana, and Budesonide and Ipratropium for rescue, have really helped me."
"I started Daliresp 7 days ago for COPD. I have side effects that are hard to ignore: headaches, body aches, and nausea. I’m going to give it a month before considering stopping. On a positive note, I started breathing better from day one. Hope the side effects will go away soon."
"Originally I had no side effects on Daliresp and noticed better breathing, but after two months I noticed a moderate tremor. PCP put me on primidone for benign essential tremor. After another month, the tremor increased significantly and I asked my pharmacist what drugs could be causing this. After she told me Daliresp, I went online to the manufacturer's website and discovered that primidone should NOT be used with Daliresp. Since it is the weekend and my tremors are continuing to increase, preventing some normal activities, I've stopped using both until I can talk to doctors on Monday."
"I have been on Daliresp for over 2 weeks now; I could tell there was much improvement in my breathing. I didn't need to use supplemental oxygen at all. However, yesterday, I couldn't take the nausea, vomiting, tremors, leg aches, headaches, and bathroom trips any longer. I tried taking the medication with and without food, but it didn't seem to make any difference. I'm wondering how long the side effects last? It seems some people don't have side effects at all. I am so disappointed that I won't be able to continue this drug, as I feel that it was helping me with my breathing. But I can't stand the side effects any longer. I have lost 10 lbs in the 2 weeks, I have no appetite whatsoever, and I know that I need the nutrition since prednisone causes bone loss."
"Got prescribed this as I'm allergic to prednisone. On it for 3 weeks but only taking 1/2 of the 500 pill daily with food as it was making me quite nauseated and continues but not as bad. A little apprehensive about taking a new medicine (FDA approval 05/11)."
"I've been on Daliresp for five days. Sick to my tummy and diarrhea is really bad. Tremors and headache. But going to give it a month or two and see if side effects go away. I take Imodium for poops and a nausea pill. It helps."
"I started taking Daliresp in July 2016. I have to quit taking it. I’ve lost 30 lbs. in 1 1/2 years. Also, I haven’t noticed any change in my breathing. Daliresp just didn’t work for me. Now that I quit taking it, my appetite is back and I’m sleeping better. I wish I had quit it sooner."
