Guide to COPD Medications

COPD, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, is a respiratory disease affecting thousands of people every year. Men and women who suffer from COPD experience excessive coughing and wheezing, shortness of breath, and increased levels of mucus in their lungs. Many COPD suffers take one of many different COPD medications to help improve their breathing.

There are three different main types of COPD medications that are administered in a variety of ways to COPD patients:

Bronchodilators

There are three different types of bronchodilators: beta-agonists, anticholinergics, and theophylline. These COPD medications basically relax the smooth muscle surrounding the airways and opening the airways in the process.

There are two types of beta-agonists: long- and short- acting. Short-acting beta-agonist COPD drugs are "emergency" medications that help relieve shortness of breath and work within 15-20 minutes of ingesting them. These are available as a nebulizer solution and dry powder inhaler. Proventil, Ventolin (both are types of abuterol), Maxair, and Alupent are some of the more common types of short-acting beta-agonists. Some of the side effects from these COPD medicines include nervousness and a possible increased heart rate.

Serevent (salmeterol) and Foradil (formoterol) are types of long-acting beta-agonist COPD medications. Instead of working immediately on COPD patients, they work effectively for an extended period of time. If taken twice a day, long-acting COPD drugs assist in opening and keeping open the patient's airways.

Anticholinergics are another type of COPD medication that is inhaled by the patient. Like long-acting beta-agonist, anticholinergics are not to be taken in an emergency. Two of the more common anticholinergics are Spiriva and Atrovent. Theophylline comes in a pill or syrup form and is to be taken regularly like anticholinergics and long-acting beta-agonists COPD medications. Upset stomach and headaches are some of the minor side effects associated with theophylline but more serious complications include seizures and heart arrhythmias.

Anti-Inflammatory COPD medication

Anti-inflammatory COPD drugs are corticosteroids and can be inhaled or taken as a pill. Inhaled corticosteroids are taken regularly and include possible bone mineral density loss and thrush (a yeast infection in the mouth that causes tongue discoloration). It is advised when taking this type of anti-inflammatory COPD medication, one should rinse after inhaling the corticosteroid to prevent thrush. Some of the different types of inhaled corticosteroids are Vanceril, Aerobid, Flovent, and Advair (a combination of Flovent and Serevent).

Unlike inhaled corticosteroids, the pill form of this anti-inflammatory are not to be taken on a regular basis. The pill form of this COPD medication is administered in a controlled environment (when a patient is hospitalized for COPD) or when the patient's COPD symptoms worsen.

Antibiotics

Antibiotics are given to COPD patients when bacterial infections worsen the patient's symptoms (exacerbation). Two types of lung diseases caused by bacterial infections that can be treated with antibiotics are bacterial pneumonia and tuberculosis. If the patient does not complete the given antibiotic prescription given to him or her by their physician, drug-resistant bacteria can form and become even more difficult to treat in COPD patients.

Before deciding on which COPD medication type is best for you, consult your physician about your options.

For more information on COPD and COPD drugs and medications, please visit the following websites:
COPD International
Mayo Clinc
National Jewish Health
National Heart Lung and Blood Institute
WebMD