Medications for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are used to treat COPDSome of these medications have other uses, such as manageing asthma. They work in different ways, including relaxing the muscles around your airways, reducing inflammation, and opening up your airways to make breathing easier. Common classes include bronchodilators, corticosteroids, and combination products. Bronchodilators like albuterol (Ventolin HFA) and levalbuterol (Xopenex HFA) usually come as inhalers and are considered "rescue" medications for an acute COPD flare up. Corticosteroids, such as fluticasone (Flovent Diskus, Flovent HFA), are also typically inhaled and used on a daily basis to help prevent COPD flare ups. Combination products, like budesonide / formoterol (Symbicort) and ipratropium / albuterol, offer a mix of these effects. These medications come in various forms, including inhalers and nebulizer solutions, to help you manage your breathing more effectively.
