A Comparison of 18g of Tiotropium Inhalation Capsules Once Daily and Atrovent Metered Dose Inhaler (2 Puffs of 20g, 4 Times Daily) in a Double-Blind, Double-Dummy, Efficacy and Safety Study in Adults With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

1. Patients with significant diseases other than COPD will be excluded. A significant disease is defined as a disease which in the opinion of the investigator may either put the patient at risk because of participation in the study or a disease which may influence the results of the study or the patient's ability to participate in the study.

2. Patients with clinically significant abnormal baseline hematology, blood chemistry or urinalysis, if the abnormality defines a disease listed as an exclusion criterion will be excluded.

3. All patients with a SGOT and SGPT twice the normal range, bilirubin 150% or creatinine 125% of the normal range will be excluded regardless of the clinical condition. Repeat laboratory evaluation will not be conducted in these subjects.

4. Patients with a recent history (i.e. one year or less) of myocardial infarction.

5. Patients with a recent history (i.e. three years or less) of heart failure or patients with any cardiac arrhythmia requiring drug therapy.

6. Patients with regular use of daytime oxygen therapy.

7. Patients with known active tuberculosis.

8. Patients with a history of cancer within the last five years. Patients with treated basal cell carcinoma are allowed.

9. Patients with a history of life-threatening pulmonary obstruction, or a history of cystic fibrosis or bronchiectasis.

10. Patients who have undergone pulmonary resection.

11. Patients with an upper respiratory tract infection in the past 6 weeks prior to the Screening Visit (=Visit 1) or during the baseline period of 2-weeks (run-in period).

12. Patients with known hypersensitivity to anticholinergic drugs, lactose or any other component of the inhalation capsule delivery system or the MDI.

13. Patients with known symptomatic prostatic hyperplasia or bladder neck obstruction.

14. Patients with known narrow-angle glaucoma.

15. Patients who are being treated with cromolyn sodium or nedocromil sodium.

16. Patients who are being treated with antihistamines.

17. Patients using oral corticosteroid medication at unstable (i.e. less than 6 weeks on a stable dose) or at a dose in excess of the equivalent 10 mg of prednisone per day or 20 mg every other day.

18. Pregnant or nursing women or women of childbearing potential not using a medically approved means of contraception (e.g. oral contraceptives, intrauterine devices, or diaphragm).

19. Patients with a history of asthma, allergic rhinitis or atopy or who have a blood total eosinophil count \>= 400 per µl (males) or \>= 320 per µl (females). A repeat eosinophil count will not be conducted in these patients.

20. Patients with a history and/or active alcohol or drug abuse.

21. Patients who have taken an investigational drug one month or six half-lives (whichever is greater) prior to the Screening Visit (=Visit 1).

What this study is about