COPD treatment

Question 1

What are the 3 main non-pharmacological approaches to managing COPD ?

Answer 1

1. Smoking cessation
2. Pulmonary rehabilitation
3. Vaccines (pneumococcal + flu)

Question 2

What is first line for COPD treatment?

Answer 2

Short-acting beta-2 agonist (salbutamol)
OR
Short-acting muscarinic antagonist (ipratropium bromide)

Question 3

If first line COPD treatment alone isn’t working and there are no signs of asthma what would you add ?

Answer 3

LABA + LAMA

Long-acting beta-2 agonists (salmeterol)
Long-acting muscarinic antagonist (tiotropium)

Question 5

If first line COPD treatment alone isn’t working and there are no signs of asthma what would you add ?

Answer 5

LABA + LAMA

Long-acting beta-2 agonist (salmeterol)
Long-acting muscarinic antagonist (tiotropium)

Question 6

If first line COPD treatment alone isn’t working and there are signs of asthma what would you add ?

Answer 6

LABA + ICS

Long-acting beta-2 agonist (salmeterol)
Inhaled corticosteroid (beclomethasone, fluticasone)

Question 7

If two steps of COPD management are insufficient, what should be done?

Answer 7

Triple therapy of LABA + LAMA + ICS