Taking Your Respiratory Medications
Medication is an important part of COPD treatment. Although it can’t cure COPD, medication can reduce your symptoms, reduce your risk of flare-ups, and help you do activities.
There are different types of COPD medications. Some relax the muscles around your lungs, others reduce swelling in your airway, and others reduce mucus production. All of them help you breathe more easily.
No matter what kind of medication you use, there are a couple things to keep in mind:
- Like any medication, COPD meds only work if they are taken correctly. Follow your doctor’s instructions, don’t skip doses, and ask your healthcare team about inhaler technique to make sure you are using your equipment correctly.
- If you’re having trouble affording your medication, there are resources that can help. There are a few links at the bottom of this module, and you can also ask your doctor for resources.
Overview of Inhaled COPD Medications
There are two main categories of inhaled COPD medications: maintenance and as-needed.
| Maintenance or Controller Medicines | As-Needed, Rescue or Quick Relief Inhalers | |
| What they do |
Maintenance or controller medication help keep your symptoms under control so you don’t have a flare-up. They are usually taken daily and typically last between 12 and 24 hours. |
Rescue, quick relief, or as-needed inhalers– they’re different names for the same medication. At Wellinks, we call them as-needed medication. They are used when you are having a flare-up, or experiencing severe symptoms. They work right away to relax the muscles in your airways. As-needed inhalers are only taken when necessary. |
| How you take them: Maintenance or controller medicines can be delivered through an inhaler or a nebulizer. A nebulizer converts liquid medicine in a fine mist, which you breathe in. Some maintenance medicines can also be taken as a pill. |
As-needed medication can be delivered through an inhaler or a nebulizer. A nebulizer converts liquid medicine in a fine mist, which you breathe in. | |
| Types | Some maintenance meds are known as “bronchodilators” because they help relax the muscles around your lungs. This helps you breathe more easily. There are different kinds of bronchodilators, known as LABAs and LAMAs– you may have heard those terms before. If you want to learn more about LABAs and LAMAs, you can read more here. But for now, just know that bronchodilators help keep your airways open. Other times, you might be prescribed a corticosteroid. Corticosteroids reduce swelling (also known as inflammation) in your lungs. Corticosteroids are prescribed to prevent flare-ups. |
Short-acting beta-agonists (SABAs): SABAs work within just a few minutes to relax your airway muscles and relieve shortness of breath. They can last between 4 and 8 hours, depending on which kind you use. Short-acting muscarinic antagonists (SAMAs): Similar to LABAs, SAMAs keep your body from telling your airways to squeeze shut. SAMAs keep your airways open before they even start to close. They also help reduce mucus production. Sometimes SAMAs can be included in a SABA inhaler or maintenance medication– but SAMAs should never be taken alone for rescue use. Combination SAMA/SABAs: These combine both SABA and SAMA medication in one inhaler or nebulizer. For some people, using combination inhalers may be more effective. |
| Good to know | Maintenance medication might not provide instant relief from symptoms, but this doesn’t mean it isn’t working! Maintenance meds are supposed to keep you from having severe symptoms in the first place. |
As-needed medication is prescribed differently for each person. Some as-needed medications are prescribed for daily use. Other people may use their inhaler prior to an activity that may cause shortness of breath. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking your as-needed medication more than prescribed. |
Other COPD Medications
You may be prescribed other maintenance medications like pills, tablets, or shots. Your doctor will help you determine what is right for you. If you have any questions, please discuss your medication plan with your doctor.
Practicing Good Medication Adherence
It’s important to take your medicine regularly and as prescribed.
- Talk to your doctor about your medication plan. Make sure you understand what you’re supposed to be taking and when. Don’t be afraid to ask questions!
- Work with your Wellinks coach to set goals for tracking and managing your medication use. There are a lot of strategies to help build good habits, and your coach will help you find the ones that work best for you.
- If you get off track with your medication, it’s okay. You can get back on schedule! And your Wellinks coach is here to help.
- Talk to your doctor if you are taking your as-needed medication more than prescribed.
Learn More
To learn more about COPD medications, you can visit the American Thoracic Society or COPD Foundation. The COPD Foundation also has an educational video series on how to use different inhalers.
Below are a few links about financial assistance programs for people who cannot afford their COPD medicine. You can also ask your doctor, pharmacy, and/or insurance company for information and resources.