COPD treatment

Question 1

what is the most useful treatment for COPD

Answer 1

smoking cessation

Question 2

what bronchodilators are used in COPD treatment

Answer 2

beta-adrenoreceptor agonists(SABA, LABA), antimuscarinics, theophylines

Question 3

what drugs other than bronchodilators are used in COPD management (5)

Answer 3

phosphodiesterase type 4 inhibitors, corticosteroids, antibiotic, antimucolytic agents, diuretics

Question 4

what is the first step of COPD drug therapy

Answer 4

single short-acting inhaled B2-agonist bronchodilator

Question 5

what would the second step of drug therapy for COPD be

Answer 5

a long-acting inhaled b2 agonist bronchodilator

OR a combo of a muscarinic and a long-acting b2 bronhcodilator

Question 6

what would the third step of drug therapy for COPD be

Answer 6

to consider adding theophyline to step 2

step 2 = long acting b2 agonist Or combo with muscarinic

Question 7

what would the fourth(final) step of COPD drug therapy be

Answer 7

combo of inhaled corticosteroid and long-acting b2 agonist

Question 8

give an example of a SABA and a LABA

Answer 8

SABA = salbutamol
LABA = formoterol/salmetarol

Question 9

give an example of an antimuscarinic drug used in COPD

Answer 9

tiotropium

Question 10

give an example of a corticosteroid used in COPD

Answer 10

prednisolone

Question 11

give an example of an antibiotic used in COPD and when they are used

Answer 11

amoxicillin used for exacerbations and acute episodes of COPD

Question 12

describe how O2 therapy is used for COPD patients

Answer 12

it is only useful in some patients, for example those with a PaO2 < 7.3kPa when breathing air

Question 13

what other treatments are available for COPD other than drugs

Answer 13

pulmonary rehabilitation, lung reduction surgery, lung transplant

Question 14

what features of COPD determine the step wise drug treatment of the disease

Answer 14

as the symptoms worsen and the FEV1 decreases the more advanced step wise treatment is used