New research suggests that a certain class of drugs used to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) boosts the risk that male patients will be unable to urinate. The disease, which makes breathing difficult due to inflammation and blockage in the body’s air passages, affects an estimated 10 percent of people aged 40 and older. A class of drugs called “inhaled anticholinergic” medications are used to treat the conditions, but there are concerns about their side effects. These drugs include tiotropium (Spiriva), ipratropium bromide (brand name Atrovent) or Combivent, which is ipratropium combined with albuterol.
