Treatment focuses on relieving symptoms, reducing exacerbation (flare-ups) of disease, improving quality of life, and correcting lifestyle habits that may worsen the condition.
To slow the progression of the disease, it’s not only important to stop smoking and avoid exposure to lung irritants, but also to take medications and vaccinations, and to follow a healthy lifestyle.
Pulmonary Rehabilitation
- An exercise or activity plan to strengthen the muscles used for breathing
- Psychological counseling
- Dietary changes to maintain a healthy weight
Medications and Therapies
While not comprehensive, the list below notes some of the main types of COPD treatment.
Bronchodilators
Short-acting bronchodilators, such as beta 2 agonists and muscarinic antagonists (also known as anticholinergics), work quickly (usually 3 to 5 minutes after first inhaling), but they wear off in a few hours.
Examples include:
Long-acting inhalers, which can also be beta 2 agonists or anticholinergics, provide relief for many hours, but the effect may be slower. Long-acting bronchodilators are taken daily, even when you feel well.
Examples include:
Steroids
Doctors often treat acute COPD exacerbations with steroids — either in pill form or via inhaler — to reduce inflammation in the airways, but inhalers are used in combination therapy and oral medications for only short periods of time. The Pulmicort Flexhaler (budesonide) is a well-known example of an inhaled steroid.
Combination Inhalers
Some inhalers combine bronchodilators and steroids. Common examples include the Advair Diskus (fluticasone-salmeterol), Breztri Aerosphere (budesonide, glycopyrrolate, and formoterol fumarate) Trelegy Ellipta (Fluticasone furoate, umeclidinium, and vilanterol) and Symbicort (budesonide and formoterol) inhalers.
Additional Medications
Other medicines may be prescribed to treat COPD, including:
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