COPD Treatment Guidelines 

Are COPD Cures Available? 

The intent of this page is to provide information about COPD treatment guidelines and to answer common questions about COPD treatment: are any COPD cures available, what are the ways of treating COPD or COPD remedies, and where can I find COPD help?

A number of health organizations have released COPD treatment guidelines in the past few years. Below you'll find summaries of what they published, written in non-medical language for readers who wish to become familiar with the basics of COPD treatment.

Your best source of guidelines for COPD treatment is, of course, your doctor or respiratory specialist of your choice.

COPD cures There are currently no COPD cures, and no way to reverse damage to the airways and lungs that has already occurred. However, COPD treatment is available that can help a patient feel better and slow down the progress of the condition.

Treating COPD There are several major objectives for COPD treatment. They are

• slow the advance of the disease and the corresponding decline in lung function,
• improve lung function,
• reduce the number of exacerbations (worsening of symptoms), and
• improve overall quality of life.

The most important guideline for treating COPD is an obvious one. The individual with the disease must stop smoking. Smoking is by far the most frequent cause of COPD, and the sooner the patient stops, the greater the chances of successful treatment.

COPD Remedies There are a number of medications that relieve COPD symptoms. These can be effective with shortness of breath and combating respiratory infections that aggravate COPD symptoms. These include bronchodilators and corticosteroids and antibiotics.

Bronchodilators - Bronchodilators relax the muscles around the bronchi (large air tubes leading from the trachea to the lungs) which permoits the COPD sufferer to breathe more easily. Use of bronchdilators is a primary step in treating COPD.

Medications called anticholinergics are most often given through inhalers (commonly called puffers). This treatment is usually effective for 4-6 hours. Side effects are few, although an often-prescribed anticholinergic medication known as ipratropium bromide (ATROVENT) may cause coughing and nervousness. A medication called albuterol sulfate is marketed under the brand name COMBIVENT.

Beta2-agonists - These work through the nervous system. Beta2-agonists cause air passages to widen, allowing for better air flow. There are two types: short acting and long acting.

Combination bronchodilators - Some brtonchodilators combine the benefits of anticholinergic and short-acting beta2-agonists. They work by acting on the part of the nervous system that controls airway size, as well as the part that controls muscle tissue around the airways. This may provide more efficiency than either component alone. Side effects can occur, including bronchitis, upper respiratory tract infection and headache.

Theophylline - This bronchodilator is taken orally. It affects muscle tissue, the heart, and various other parts and systems of the body. Theophylline opens up airways, improves muscle endurance, and decreases muscle fatigue. It used to be the most-prescribed COPD treatment, but is no longer because it has more side effects than newer medications. It's still an alternative, however, for those patients who can't use use aerosol therapy. Side effects may include nausea, vomiting, headache and insomnia.

Corticosteroids - These are appropriate only for a small number of COPD patients. As of this writing, only about 1 patient in 10 improves lung function by using them. They are prescribed more often for asthma sufferers. But their effectiveness is extremely limited in COPD treatment. Corticosteroids may have some side effects: upper respiratory infection, headache and pharyngitis. See asthma vs COPD.

Antibiotics - Antibiotics may have some value as a COPD treatment when the patient has an acute bacterial infection in their respiratory tract. They may also be helpful in treating COPD exacerbations when there are symptoms of an infection, such as fever, or coughing.

Help for COPD There are a number of organizations dedicated to providing current information about COPD treatment and offering support support and help for COPD sufferers. Click on help for COPD.

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