7 Things to Know About Combination Therapies for COPD

Medically Reviewed By William C. Lloyd III, MD, FACS

Written By Jennifer Larson on February 21, 2021

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  What You Need to Know About Combination Therapies for COPD

  If you have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, you’re all too familiar with the most common symptoms: the coughing, the wheezing, the breathlessness. There’s no cure for COPD, so you must take medication to manage your symptoms and reduce exacerbations that might land you in the hospital. Some people with COPD find new combination inhalers that blend a few different medications together help them manage their COPD much better. But it’s important to learn as much as you can about combination therapy before you give it a try.
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  1. You have options.

  People with COPD can choose between a number of different types of dual- or triple-therapy agents—that is, combinations of two or three unique drugs. Different drugs for COPD work in different ways, and combining two or three of them in one inhaler can be extremely effective. For example, a medication called albuterol opens up the air passages in the lungs, while another, called ipratropium bromide, relaxes the muscles around the airways. Combined together in one inhaler, they work well to keep COPD symptoms at bay.
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  2. Not everyone needs combination therapy.

  Some people can really benefit from combination therapy for COPD. But others can control their COPD symptoms and flare-ups without needing to use a combination therapy approach. They may have only mild COPD, or they may not have any trouble juggling a list of medications that they need to take at various times during the day.
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  3. Long-term adherence is key.

  People with COPD need to take their meds—and they need to faithfully stick to their treatment regimen. A combination inhaler for COPD may be just the ticket because it combines a few of their medications into one, reducing the number of medications they have to remember to take. Simplifying their routine can improve their adherence to therapy over the long run.
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  4. Combination therapy makes it hard to forget.

  If you have to take several medications, have you ever slipped up and forgotten to take one of them? A combination inhaler for COPD eliminates the possibility that you’ll take one COPD med and forget the other. When you use the inhaler, you’re getting the correct dose of two medications at once.
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  5. You only have to take some meds once per day.

  If you’ve been dreaming of ways to simplify your life even more, consider this: a COPD medication that you only take once per day is now available. These therapies are designed to be effective for 24 hours, so you don’t have to worry about sticking to a schedule that requires you to take multiple medications for your COPD every day. This can be especially useful for people who have other chronic conditions for which they must take other medications on a daily basis. 
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  6. Combination therapy can reduce flare-ups.

  Flare-ups can be scary for people with COPD. Your shortness of breath may suddenly worsen, while you begin coughing and wheezing more than usual, too. You might become confused or very exhausted, and you might even run a fever. Serious exacerbations can warrant a trip to the hospital. But research shows that combination therapy tends to reduce the incidence of COPD flare-ups.
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  7. It’s crucial to be honest with your doctor.

  It’s important to only take these combination therapies as prescribed by your healthcare provider. You don’t want to use them without consulting your provider first and getting all the details. Let them know if you’re experiencing any side effects that you can’t tolerate, or if the medication isn’t working as effectively as it should be.

Combination Inhalers for COPD | Combination Medications for COPD

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