Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease medical therapy

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease Microchapters
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Philip Marcus, M.D., M.P.H. [2]; Associate Editor(s)-In-Chief: Cafer Zorkun, M.D., Ph.D. [3]

Overview

Treatment of COPD requires a careful and thorough evaluation by a physician. The most important aspect of treatment is avoiding tobacco smoke and removing other air pollutants from the patient’s home or workplace. Symptoms such as coughing or wheezing can be treated with medication. Respiratory infections should be treated with antibiotics, if appropriate. Patients who have low blood oxygen levels in their blood are often given supplemental oxygen.

Medical therapy

• Treatment of COPD requires a careful and thorough evaluation by a physician.
• The most important aspect of treatment is avoiding tobacco smoke and removing other air pollutants from the patient’s home or workplace.
• Patients who have low blood oxygen levels in their blood are often given supplemental oxygen.
• Oral and inhaled medications are used for patients with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) to reduce dyspnea, improve exercise tolerance, and prevent complications.
• Symptoms such as coughing or wheezing can be treated with bronchodilators like subcutaneous medications, beta-adrenergics, methylxanthines, and anticholinergics. They act via decreasing muscle tone in small and large airways in the lungs.
• Respiratory infections should be treated with antibiotics, if appropriate.

General therapy

• Treatment of COPD requires a careful and thorough evaluation by a physician.
• The most important aspect of treatment is avoiding tobacco smoke and removing other air pollutants from the patient’s home or workplace.
• Patients who have low blood oxygen levels in their blood are often given supplemental oxygen.
• Oral and inhaled medications are used for patients with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) to reduce dyspnea, improve exercise tolerance, and prevent complications. Symptoms such as coughing or wheezing can be treated with bronchodilators like subcutaneous medications, beta-adrenergics, methylxanthines, and anticholinergics. They act via decreasing muscle tone in small and large airways in the lungs.
• Respiratory infections should be treated with antibiotics, if appropriate.

Beta adrenergic receptor agonists

Short acting selective B2 agonist

• Used for symptomatic relief during acute mild, exacerbation
• Mechanism of action - Increases intracellular cyclic adenosine monophosphate via activation of B2 -adrenergic receptors on smooth muscle cells of airway and causes smooth muscle relaxation.
• These agents are less effective in COPD compared to Asthma.
• Drugs available are:

Albuterol, Metaproterenol, Pirbuterol

• Used for bronchospasm refractory to epinephrine.
• Route - Inhaled

Levalbuterol

• Albuterol is a racemic mixture containing both R and S enantiomer. The S enantiomer doesn't bind to Beta 2 receptor and maybe the cause of side-effects. On the other hand, levalbuterol has only active R enantiomer thus causes less side-effects.
• It is used for both treatment and prevention of bronchospasm.

External link

COPD CDC

References

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