COPD – Maintenance Inhaler Therapy

Transcript

Similar to asthma, maintenance inhaler therapy is also important for COPD. Three classes of inhaled medications include inhaled steroids, beta2 agonists and muscarinic antagonists. These medications help calm inflammation in the airways and open up the airways, making it easier to exhale air out of the lungs, minimizing air trapping and reducing the work of breathing. A patient’s symptoms, severity, and certain blood markers may help a physician prescribe the most effective inhaler regimen. Distinguishing between maintenance inhalers, which should be taken once or twice daily, versus as-needed inhalers is important for COPD as with asthma. In my clinic, my staff watches a patient take their new inhaler to make sure they know how to correctly use the inhaler, getting the medications into their airways and lungs.