Emphysema Medication
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| Emphysema Medication |
Medications
* Bronchodilators (including ipratropium, albuterol, isoproterenol, metaproterenol, pirbuterol, terbutaline, levalbuterol, salmeterol, and formoterol)—increase airflow and help make it easier to breathe
* Theophylline – another type of bronchodilator
* Corticosteroids—reduce inflammation; taken by inhaler; when an attack is severe, your doctor may recommend oral or even intravenous steroids
* Antibiotics—used to treat COPD when symptoms worsen
Surgery and Other Procedures
When flare-ups are severe, requiring hospitalization, use of oxygen and nebulized lung treatments may be necessary. Occasionally, mechanical ventilation on a respirator is needed during the hospital course. At late stages of the disease, many people with COPD need continuous oxygen at home.
Lung transplant is sometimes performed for severe cases of COPD.
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