Mediaction and Treatment for Copd
Medication and Treatment for COPD
Inhaled Therapies
NICE COPD guidelines have made specific recommendations regarding the use of inhaled long-acting bronchodilators and inhaled steroids separately and in combination, but newer studies have assessed these drugs singly and in combination over longer periods of time.
Bronchodilators (relievers)
Short-acting beta2 agonists (SABA)
Beta2 agonists act directly on bronchial smooth muscle to cause bronchodilation. They are the most widely used bronchodilators for COPD. Short-acting beta2 agonists are the most commonly used short-acting bronchodilators in COPD.
EXAMPLES: Salbutamol or Bricanyal
Short-acting Anticholinergic (SAMA)
Cholinergic nerves are the main neural bronchoconstrictor pathway in the airways and the resting tone is increased in patients with COPD. Anticholinergic drugs cause bronchodilatation by blocking this bronchoconstrictor effect. Cholinergic effects on the airway are mediated by muscarinic receptors and these also mediate effects on mucus secretion. Anticholinergic drugs are also referred to as muscarinic antagonists (e.g. short-acting muscarinic antagonist (SAMA)).
EXAMPLES: Atrovent (Ipratropium Bromide)
Short-acting bronchodilators, as necessary, should be the initial first-hand treatment for the relief of breathlessness and exercise limitation.
Long-acting beta2 agonists (LABA)
The bronchodilator effects of long-acting beta2 agonists are similar to the short-acting agents but their duration of action is around 12 hours. There are two long-acting beta2 agonists: salmeterol and formoterol. These drugs have quite different molecular structures and there are thought to be different mechanisms responsible for the longer duration of action of these two molecules.
Long-acting anticholinergic (long-acting muscarinic antagonists or LAMA)
Tiotropium is currently the only long-acting anticholinergic bronchodilator available. Its duration of action is such that it can be given once daily.
Inhaled Therapies
NICE COPD guidelines have made specific recommendations regarding the use of inhaled long-acting bronchodilators and inhaled steroids separately and in combination, but newer studies have assessed these drugs singly and in combination over longer periods of time.
Bronchodilators (relievers)
Short-acting beta2 agonists (SABA)
Beta2 agonists act directly on bronchial smooth muscle to cause bronchodilation. They are the most widely used bronchodilators for COPD. Short-acting beta2 agonists are the most commonly used short-acting bronchodilators in COPD.
EXAMPLES: Salbutamol or Bricanyal
Short-acting Anticholinergic (SAMA)
Cholinergic nerves are the main neural bronchoconstrictor pathway in the airways and the resting tone is increased in patients with COPD. Anticholinergic drugs cause bronchodilatation by blocking this bronchoconstrictor effect. Cholinergic effects on the airway are mediated by muscarinic receptors and these also mediate effects on mucus secretion. Anticholinergic drugs are also referred to as muscarinic antagonists (e.g. short-acting muscarinic antagonist (SAMA)).
EXAMPLES: Atrovent (Ipratropium Bromide)
Short-acting bronchodilators, as necessary, should be the initial first-hand treatment for the relief of breathlessness and exercise limitation.
Long-acting beta2 agonists (LABA)
The bronchodilator effects of long-acting beta2 agonists are similar to the short-acting agents but their duration of action is around 12 hours. There are two long-acting beta2 agonists: salmeterol and formoterol. These drugs have quite different molecular structures and there are thought to be different mechanisms responsible for the longer duration of action of these two molecules.
Long-acting anticholinergic (long-acting muscarinic antagonists or LAMA)
Tiotropium is currently the only long-acting anticholinergic bronchodilator available. Its duration of action is such that it can be given once daily.