COPD TreatmentThat COPD is an irreversible lung disease, speaks loudly for the importance of COPD treatment in slowing down the progression of the disease and improving quality of life.
While many medications are available to treat COPD, no drug has demonstrated effectiveness in halting the progression of the disease. Rather, the goal of drug therapy at this time is to maintain control of symptoms and prevent COPD exacerbation.
The following details some basic forms of COPD treatment that your doctor may use during your therapy:
Quitting Smoking
In order to prevent or slow the progression of the disease, smoking cessation is the most essential and yet most commonly overlooked aspect of COPD management.
In previous years, no drug has rendered itself of benefit to those who had a desire to quit smoking. Thankfully, however, that has changed, and medications are now available to assist people who want to stop. Examples are:Nicotine Replacement Therapy - Including gum, inhalers, tablets, patches and nasal spray. These aids help reduce cravings, making it easier to quit.
- Antidepressant Therapy - Taken alone or with nicotine replacement therapy, drugs used for depression, such as Wellbutrin, can also help you kick the habit.
- Clonidine - Used primarily to treat high blood pressure, this drug is thought to be helpful in treating nicotine withdrawal symptoms for those trying to quit smoking.
Counseling and quit smoking support groups may also prove beneficial as an adjunct to medication therapy.
Antimicrobials
Those who have infection associated with COPD are commonly treated with antimicrobials. Prescribing antibiotics for conditions that are not associated with a bacterial infection, however, is a thing of the past. Most doctors will verify the presence of an infection with a blood or sputum culture. Common antimicrobials prescribed by doctors are:
- Tetracyclines
- Ampicillin
- Amoxicillin
- Bactrim
If you have been prescribed a course of antibiotics from your doctor, make sure you take the entire prescription and don't stop just because you are feeling better. Not finishing your prescription can increase the risk of resistance to the infectious organism.
Bronchodilators
Drugs in this class relax the airway wall muscles allowing you to breathe better. The following are some common bronchodilators that your doctor may prescribe:
- Albuterol
- Atrovent
- Combivent
- Spiriva
- Terbutaline
- Theophylline
- Xopenex
Corticosteroids
According to the Global Initiative for Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD), the role that corticosteroids play in the management of stable COPD is limited to specific indications due to the risk of potentially dangerous side effects. Oral corticosteroids on the other hand, are beneficial in the management of acute exacerbation of COPD as they shorten recovery time, improve lung function (FEV1), and hypoxemia. They may also decrease the possibility of early relapse, treatment failure and length of hospital stay. The following lists some common corticosteroids that your doctor may prescribe during your treatment for COPD:
- Flovent
- Solumedrol
- Prednisone
Aerosol Therapy
Aerosol therapy is the process of dispensing particles of medication in a fine spray or mist by way of a nebulizer. The medications frequently used during this process are bronchodilators. Nebulized aerosols work by relieving spasms in the lungs, decreasing swelling, and making your secretions easier to cough up.
Pulmonary Rehabilitation
Pulmonary rehabilitation offers a unique intervention for patients with COPD. It is most beneficial for those who have debilitating symptoms and whose daily activities are impaired due to the disease.
Through assessment, exercise, education and psychological support, pulmonary rehabilitation can help reduce symptoms, increase participation in daily activities and reduce overall health care costs in the COPD population.
Using an interdisciplinary approach, your pulmonary rehabilitation team may be composed of specialists in the field of lung health, such as doctors, nurses, respiratory therapists, physical therapists, occupational therapists and psychologists. They collectively help you cope with the disease by treating all aspects of the disease from a physical, psychological and social standpoint.
For optimal results, pulmonary rehabilitation should be long enough to produce the maximum benefit without proving burdensome. While it has been observed that some patients show improvement in as little as 10 days, others have participated in the program for as long as 18 months.
Oxygen Therapy
Over two decades ago, the Nocturnal Oxygen Therapy Trial Group performed a 19-month study that showed that patients who were on long-term, continuous oxygen therapy showed a significant decrease in mortality rates than those who used oxygen only at night.
Oxygen therapy not only increases survival rates in patients with COPD, but it may help alleviate symptoms and improve your quality of life. Remember, oxygen is a drug and must be prescribed by a physician.
Flu Shots
For those with COPD, recent data indicates that flu shots not only reduce the number of hospitalizations and doctor's visits for a patient with COPD, but decreases overall mortality and morbidity rates. Be sure to see your doctor for more information if you have, or at risk for developing, COPD.
Surgical Intervention
There are three types of surgery that may be an option for those with end-stage emphysema that is not amenable to treatment and who meet specific requirements. These include bullectomy, lung volume reduction surgery and lung transplantation. Are you a candidate for surgery? Find out more about surgical intervention for COPD.
It is not uncommon for your doctor to use a combination of methods in the management of your disease. Your progress will be based on how well you respond to the treatment methods that he or she has imposed. Your doctor will monitor your prescribed treatment closely to see if, and when, adjustments need to be made. If you have questions concerning your treatment for COPD, be sure to ask your doctor.
