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tREAtMEnt
there is no cure for CoPD. however, there are many things you can do to relieve symptoms and keep the disease
from getting worse. if you quit smoking, it results in a return to the normal rate of decline in lung function.
meDiCations useD to treat CoPD inCluDe:
• Bronchodilators to open the airways, such as venteze inhaler or Berotec inhaler
• Longer acting bronchodilators such as Spiriva or Forvent or Onbrez or Serevent inhalers
• Combination therapy medicine such as Foxair inhaler
• these medications relax the muscles surrounding the narrowed airways allowing the airways to open wider,
making it easier to breathe
in severe Cases or During flare-uPs, you may neeD to reCeive:
• Oral steroids
• nebulisations
• Oxygen therapy
• You may need oxygen therapy at home if you have a low level of oxygen in your blood.
• Antibiotics are prescribed during symptom flare-ups, because infections can make COPD worse.
SiDE EFFECtS OF COPD MEDiCinES
• Bronchodilator inhalers are a safe and effective medicine and have very few side effects.
• Because the inhaled medicine goes straight down to the airways where it is needed, very little is absorbed
into the rest of the body.
• there is a small risk of having a sore tongue, sore throat, hoarseness of the voice and a mouth infection
called thrush. to help prevent these side effects, rinse your mouth out and brush your teeth after using your
inhaler.
USing YOUR inhALERS
• Using an inhaler is the most common way of taking COPD medicines. it is also a very
effective way because inhaling the medicine takes it straight into your lungs.
• to make your breathing better, you MUSt take your medicine as explained
below. this will open up your air passages and help you breathe easier and
feel better.
