COPD - control drugs: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia

P Control medicines for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are drugs you take to control or prevent symptoms of COPD. You must use them every day for them to work well.
P These medicines are not used to treat flare-ups. Flare-ups are treated with quick-relief (rescue) drugs.
P Depending on the medicine, control drugs help you breathe easier by:
- Relaxing the muscles in your airways
- Reducing any swelling in your airways
- Helping the lungs work better
P You and your doctor can make a plan for the control drugs that you should use. This plan will include when you should take them and how much you should take.
P You may need to take these drugs for at least a month before you start to feel better. Take them even when you feel OK.
P Ask your doctor about the side effects of any medicines you are prescribed. Be sure you know which side effects are serious enough that you need to call your doctor right away.
P Follow instructions on how to use your medicines the right way.
P Make sure you get your medicine refilled before you run out.

T Anticholinergic Inhalers
P Anticholinergic inhalers include:
- Aclidinium (Tudorza Pressair)
- Glycopyrronium (Seebri Neohaler)
- Ipratropium (Atrovent)
- Tiotropium (Spiriva)
- Umeclidinium (Incruse Ellipta)
P Use your anticholinergic inhalers every day, even if you do not have symptoms.

T Beta-agonist Inhalers
P Beta-agonist inhalers include:
- Arformoterol (Brovana)
- Formoterol (Foradil; Perforomist)
- Indacaterol (Arcapta Neohaler)
- Salmeterol (Serevent)
- Olodaterol (Striverdi Respimat)
P DO NOT use a spacer with beta-agonist inhalers.

T Inhaled Corticosteroids
P Inhaled corticosteroids include:
- Beclomethasone (Qvar)
- Fluticasone (Flovent)
- Ciclesonide (Alvesco)
- Mometasone (Asmanex)
- Budesonide ( Pulmicort)
P After you use these drugs, rinse your mouth with water, gargle, and spit.

T Combination Inhaled Medicines
P Combination medicines combine two drugs and are inhaled. They include:
- Albuterol and ipratropium (Combivent Respimat; Duoneb)
- Budesonide and formoterol (Symbicort)
- Fluticasone and salmeterol (Advair)
- Fluticasone and vilanterol (Breo Ellipta)
- Formoterol and mometasone (Dulera)
- Tiotropium and olodaterol (Stiolto Respimat)
- Umeclidinium and vilanterol (Anoro Ellipta)

T Phosphodiesterase Inhibitor
P Roflumilast (Daliresp) is a tablet that is swallowed.

T Antibiotics
P Azithromycin is a tablet that is swallowed.

T Alternative Names
P Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease - control drugs; Bronchodilators - COPD - control drugs; Beta agonist inhaler - COPD - control drugs; Anticholinergic inhaler - COPD - control drugs; Long-acting inhaler - COPD - control drugs; Corticosteroid inhaler - COPD - control drugs

T References
P Anderson B, Brown H, Bruhl E, et al. Institute for Clinical Systems Improvement. Health care guideline: Diagnosis and management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). 10th edition. Updated January 2016. www.icsi.org/_asset/yw83gh/COPD.pdf. Accessed February 9, 2016.
P Han MK, Lazarus SC. COPD. In: Broaddus VC, Mason RJ, Ernst JD, et al, eds. Murray and Nadel's Textbook of Respiratory Medicine. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2016:chap 44.

T Read More
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
- Lung disease

T Patient Instructions
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease - adults - discharge
- COPD - what to ask your doctor
- Eating extra calories when sick - adults
- How to breathe when you are short of breath
- How to use a nebulizer
- How to use an inhaler - no spacer
- How to use an inhaler - with spacer
- How to use your peak flow meter
- Oxygen safety
- Traveling with breathing problems
- Using oxygen at home
- Using oxygen at home - what to ask your doctor

T Review Date 2/2/2016
P Updated by: Denis Hadjiliadis, MD, MHS, Associate Professor of Medicine, Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Isla Ogilvie, PhD, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

T Related MedlinePlus Health Topics
- COPD

