The modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) questionnaire for assessing the severity of breathlessness. In patients who continue to be breathless or have exacerbations, offer a long-acting beta 2 agonist (LABA) and a long-acting muscarinic antagonist (LAMA). The COPD Assessment Test (CAT) is designed to quantify how COPD affects a patient’s life and how this changes over time.ĬAT comprises eight questions and provides a measure of health status ranging from 0–40 and is available from: Long-acting adrenoceptor agonists (LABAs) are beta-adrenergic agonists usually prescribed for moderate-to-severe persistent asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). If a patient has been admitted to hospital in the previous 12 months due to a COPD exacerbation they are considered high risk. Annual influenza immunisation and appropriate pneumococcal immunisation reduces the risk of serious respiratoryįurther information on pulmonary rehabilitation is available from:Īn exacerbation is an acute event with worsening of symptoms, beyond normal day-to-day variation, that requires a change in medication.Creating a written COPD action plan indicating what to do if the patient’s condition deteriorates - an example plan is provided in.(see Appendices 4 and 5 of the NZ COPD guidelines for some non-pharmacological strategies for breathlessness: Pulmonary rehabilitation offered to all patients where available, as it improves breathlessness substantially more than inhaled medicines.Regular exercise at least 20 – 30 minutes per day, ideally more if fitness allows.Smoking cessation the most important factor to improve symptoms and slow disease progression.Non-pharmacological interventions include: In COPD management, non-pharmacological interventions are the most effective way to improve symptom controlĪnd quality of life and modify disease progression, regardless of what pharmacological treatments are ultimately required. Take twice daily using Aerosphere ®.Remember: Non-pharmacological interventions are first-line Bevespi ® (glycopyrrolate and formoterol).Utibron ® (indacaterol and glycopyrrolate), Take twice daily using Neohaler ®. Stiolto ® (olodaterol and tiotropium), Take once daily using Respimat ®. Stiverdi® (olodaterol), Take once daily using Respimat ®.Īnoro ® (umeclidinium and vilanterol), Take once daily using Ellipta ®. Serevent ® (salmeterol), Take twice daily using Discus ® or MDI. Perforomist® (formoterol), Take twice daily using nebulizer. However, studies comparing the long-acting muscarinic antagonist (LAMA) tiotropium with the long-acting 2-agonist (LABA) salmeterol in patients with asthma. Tudorza® (aclidinium), Take twice daily using Pressair®.Īrcapta ® (indacaterol), Take once daily using Elliptaīrovana ® (arformoterol), Take twice daily using nebulizer. Spiriva® (tiotropium), Take once daily using Respmat® or Handihaler®. Seebri ® (glycopyrrolate), Take twice daily using Respimat ®

Incruse ® (umeclidinium), Take once daily using Ellipta ®. LABA and LAMA are types of bronchodilators. Long-acting bronchodilators can be either LABAs (long-acting beta2 agonists) or LAMAs (long-acting muscarinic antogonists). Long-acting bronchodilators are used regularly to open the airways and keep them open. SABA & SAMA (Short-acting muscarinic antagonist) combination bronchodilators include:Ĭombivent ® (albuterol and ipratropium), Take with Respimat ®.ĭuoneb ® (albuterol and ipratropium) Take with nebulizer. Xopenex HFA ®, Xopenex ® (levalbuterol), Take with MDI or nebulizer. Proventil HFA ®, ProAir ®, Ventolin HFA ® (albuterol).Take with MDI or RespiClick ®. SABA (Short-acting inhaled beta-agonists) include: They may also be prescribed before exercise. Your doctor may prescribe these as-needed to decrease shortness of breath. These medications work quickly (within 15-20 minutes) to help decrease shortness of breath. Short-Acting Bronchodilators (Short acting beta agonists, SABA & short-acting muscarinic antagonists, SAMA) There are different types of short or long acting bronchodilators that work in different ways. Bronchodilator medication can be short or long acting. Bronchodilators help open the airways in the lungs by relaxing smooth muscle around the airways.

Sama laba lama