Definition
COPD - an acronym for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease - is the most common complication of bronchitis: we are talking about a chronic disease affecting the bronchi and lungs, mainly responsible for breathing difficulties and alteration of lung elasticity (above all) and bronchial elasticity.
Notes: COPD is defined as "chronic" to emphasize the difficulty (and often the impossibility) of a complete recovery of the sick patient, despite the care
Causes
As we have seen, COPD is a complication of bronchitis, but often represents a possible inflammatory response (carried to excess) to smoke, gas and environmental pollution. Among the risk factors, genetic predisposition plays a leading role, associated with old age and, of course, smoking.
Symptoms
Respiratory difficulty is the key symptom of COPD, essentially associated with emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Other closely related symptoms include: anorexia, asthenia, increase in carbon dioxide in the blood, weight reduction, hyperproduction of mucus and catarrhal cough. Based on the severity of the symptoms, COPD is classified as mild, moderate and severe.
Information on COPD - COPD Treatment Drugs is not intended to replace the direct relationship between health professional and patient. Always consult your doctor and / or specialist before taking COPD - COPD Medication.
drugs
When untreated or neglected, COPD turns out to be deadly; in fact, the disease has proved to be one of the leading causes of death worldwide.
Being a chronic and devious disease, COPD patients - despite a targeted and precise pharmacological treatment - cannot completely recover. However, the use of drugs is necessary and essential to avoid the complications of the disease: in fact, in the long run, COPD - degenerating into serious respiratory difficulties and chronic cough with the presence of sputum - could seriously hinder the simple daily activities of the patient, such as shopping, eating and sleeping.
Furthermore, as COPD is a disease that is closely related to smoking, abstention from smoking is a fundamental practice to better address the disease. Clearly, suspension or abstention from smoking is one of the most important rules for preventing lung / bronchial diseases such as pneumonia, bronchitis and, in fact, COPD.
Among the drugs most commonly used in therapy against COPD, bronchodilators, antibiotics (in the case of bacterial superinfections), cortisone drugs, theophylline derivatives and anticholinergics cannot be omitted.
The flu vaccine has proved to be particularly indicated in order to avoid possible and possible complications of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Antibiotics : antibiotic administration is indicated exclusively for the treatment of bacterial infections in the context of COPD. The most widely used antibiotics include: Amoxicillin (eg Augmentin, Klavux), Telithromycin (eg Ketek) and erythromycin (eg Erythro L, Lauromycin). The dosage and duration of treatment must be established by the doctor. Finally, it should be pointed out that antibiotics are almost indispensable in the event of a worsening of cough associated with sputum.
Bronchodilators : perform their therapeutic activity by relaxing the muscles of the respiratory tract; they are recommended to calm the cough and counteract the difficulty in breathing:
- Formoterol (eg Oxis Turbohaler, Sinestic Mite, Symbicort Mite, Kurovent) is also available in combination with mometasone, in the form of inhaled capsules (1 inhalation of 12 mcg every 12 hours) or of inhaled solution (from 20 mcg to 2 ml per vial, to be inhaled using a special nebulizer, with mask)
- Indacaterol (Onbrez): belongs to the category of beta 2 selective agonists, like the aforementioned formoterol. These drugs can be further classified based on the duration of action; we have beta 2 short-acting agonists (fenoterol, salbutamol, terbutaline sulfate, orciprenaline) and long-term agonists (salmeterol, bambuterol, formoterol fumarate).
Indacaterol is the progenitor of the beta 2 agonists with an ultra long duration of action, so called because they guarantee a bronchodilation that lasts for at least 24 hours from the intake, allowing a single daily intake. The dose of drug usually administered varies from 150 to 300 micrograms per day. It is advisable to inhale the drug at the same time each day.
- Isoetarin: the drug exerts a discrete relaxing activity in the vascular and bronchial smooth muscles. Indicated for the treatment of chronic bronchitis and COPD in case of severe crisis for a rapid improvement of symptoms; in general, this drug has now been overtaken for several years by more effective drugs with fewer side effects in the heart.
Methylxanthines : class of bronchodilators
- Difylline: in general, the drug is available in association with Guaifenesina, a substance with antitussive-expectorant activity. The dosage and method of administration of the drug must be established by the doctor. However, the drug can be found in tablets-capsules (100-200 mg) or in solution (5-10 ml of active), to be taken orally, 3-4 times a day.
- Theophylline (eg Aminomal Elisir, Diffumal, Respicur) is a xanthine drug used in therapy to reduce bronchoconstrictor stimulation. Theophylline is indicated for the treatment of chronic bronchitis and COPD associated with asthma: the drug should be taken at a loading dose of 5 mg / kg. The drug is often recommended in association with antitussives / expectorants; there are also already dosed pharmacological preparations. Consult your doctor.
Spray steroids : useful for reducing inflammation of the bronchi and lungs, they are recommended for the treatment of COPD also to help the patient in breathing. Do not abuse: the excessive and prolonged use of steroids can increase the risk of hypertension and diabetes, as well as weaken the bones. Their use is generally reserved for patients with moderate or severe COPD.
- Beclometasone (eg Rinoclenil, nasal Becotide) the drug, widely used in therapy against COPD, should be taken by inhalation, at the dosage of 1-2 sprays (42-84 mcg) in each nostril, twice a day (168- 336 mg per day). The dosage just described refers to the spray drug, 0.042% solution.
- Fluticasone (eg Avamys, Alisade, Fluspiral, Flixonase, Nasofan), although widely used in rhinitis therapy, is equally useful for lightening the typical symptoms of COPD. Patients previously treated exclusively with bronchodilator drugs can take the drug at a dose of 100 mcg on the first day, progressively increasing the dose from day to day, up to a maximum of 500 mcg twice a day. Patients previously treated with oral corticosteroids can take fluticasone at a dose of 880 mcg per day.
- Budesonide (eg. Biben, Pulmaxan) belongs to the class of glucocorticoids and is used in COPD therapy as a bronchodilator. The drug is administered by inhalation: to repeat two applications (200-400 mcg) twice a day. Do not exceed 400 mcg per day. In case of previous treatment with corticosteroids, it is possible to increase the dose up to 800 mcg per day (divided into 4 inhalations twice a day).
Phosphodiesterase 4 inhibitors : new class of drugs successfully used in monitoring symptoms related to COPD
- Roflumilast (Es. Libertek, Daliresp, Daxas) is used both to treat COPD and to treat chronic bronchitis. It is recommended to take the drug at the dose of one tablet once a day, preferably always at the same time. It is good to point out that the therapeutic activity of the drug gives good results only after a few weeks of treatment (it does not give immediate effect).
Anticholinergic (antimuscarinic) nasal sprays
Ipratropium (eg Atem, Breva): using aerosol, repeat 2 inhalations (36 mcg) 4 times a day (do not exceed 12 inhalations per day). Alternatively, take a 500 mg single-dose vial (nebulised solution), 3-4 times a day. Hypratropium is indicated both for keeping rhinorrhea under control and for relieving COPD symptoms.
