The information provided here is meant to give you a general idea about each of the medications listed below. Only the most general side effects are included. As such, ask your doctor if you need to take any special precautions. Use each of these medications as recommended by your doctor. Make sure to follow the instructions provided. If you have further questions about benefits, usage, or side effects, contact your doctor.
Numerous medications may be prescribed to treat COPD. These medications may be taken by mouth or inhaled into the lungs. Some work by opening the airways. Others are designed to reduce inflammation, or eliminate infections. The list below is a sample of some of these medications. Doctors may often choose drugs closely related to those listed. They may also choose combinations of drugs.
Short-acting inhaled bronchodilators include:
Long-acting inhaled bronchodilators include:
These drugs work by relaxing the smooth muscles of the respiratory tract. This allows the bronchial passages to open, which makes breathing easier.
Possible side effects include:
Common names include:
Corticosteroids reduce inflammation in the airway walls. They are frequently used if airway obstruction cannot be kept under control with bronchodilators. Corticosteroids are usually provided in an inhaled form. This allows them to work directly on inflamed lung tissue. Few serious side effects are associated with their use if inhaled.
Possible side effects from inhalation therapy include:
Systemic corticosteroids, taken by mouth or by IV, may also be used to treat sudden worsening of COPD. However, long-term use in COPD is not usually recommended.
Common names include:
PDE4 inhibitors reduce lung inflammation by blocking the effects of specific inflammatory substances in the body. It also makes mucus easier to clear from the lungs and reduces the number of COPD exacerbations. It is generally used in people who have severe COPD. PDE4 inhibitors are taken by mouth once a day.
Possible side effects include:
Side effects that affect your mental health may include new or worsening depression or anxiety. NOTE: These drugs may increase the risk of suicidal thoughts or actions. If you have these feelings, call for emergency medical services right away.
Supplemental oxygen may be given in the hospital or as home oxygen therapy. There are several of oxygen delivery. A nasal cannula is a two-pronged device inserted in the nostrils. It is connected to a tube carrying the oxygen. The tube can rest on the ears, or be attached to the frame of eyeglasses. People who need a high flow of oxygen may use a mask.
Oxygen therapy raises low blood oxygen levels. This enhances your ability to tolerate exercise, and improves mental function. It also improves heart function and helps to prevent some of the heart complications of COPD. You may require oxygen only during waking hours, or you may need it at all times throughout the day. Make sure that you understand how many hours a day you should be using oxygen. It is important to follow the prescription closely.
If you are using supplemental oxygen, it is extremely important that you do not smoke cigarettes. You should also avoid all other sources of fire or flame, such as candles or gas stoves. These could produce an explosive reaction. You should also avoid drinking alcohol or sedatives, since these can slow your breathing rate.
While on supplemental oxygen therapy, contact your doctor if:
Antibiotics are used to treat bacterial infections that could further limit breathing. They are frequently prescribed at the first sign of a respiratory infection, such as increased production of green or yellow sputum or fever. Usually, they are taken for 3-7 days. Your doctor may advise you to take them for a longer period to prevent flare-ups. Some are taken with food or on an empty stomach. It is usually best to avoid alcohol while taking antibiotics.
Some of the more likely side effects include:
Common names include:
Mucolytics are dissolve, break up, and loosen excess mucus in the chest, making it easier to cough it up and out of the lungs. These drugs can help reduce the number of acute exacerbations, or attacks, when symptoms worsen. Doing so reduces the number of trips to the emergency room and hospitalizations. Mucolytics can be taken by IV, inhaler, or mouth. Not all forms of mucolytics are over-the-counter, some require a perscription. Talk to your doctor about these drugs before taking them yourself. They are used in combination with other treatments.
Possible side effects include:
Ambroxol is not recommended for women in their first trimester of pregnancy.
Talk to your doctor before using any over-the-counter medications if you have COPD.
If you are taking medications, follow these general guidelines:
Contact your doctor if you:
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COPD. EBSCO DynaMed Plus website. Available at: http://www.dynamed.com/topics/dmp~AN~T115557. Updated October 1, 2018. Accessed October 15, 2018.
How is COPD treated? National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute website. Available at:
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Accessed October 15, 2018.
Patient Education: Teaching the Patient with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). EBSCO Nursing Reference Center website. Available at:
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Updated March 28, 2018. Accessed October 15, 2018.
Inhaled corticosteroids for COPD. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: http://www.dynamed.com/topics/dmp~AN~T161710/Inhaled-corticosteroids-for-COPD. Updated February 9, 2017. Accessed February 22, 2017.
1/13/2014 DynaMed Plus Systematic Literature Surveillance http://www.dynamed.com/topics/dmp~AN~T115557/COPD: Herath SC, Poole P. Prophylactic antibiotic therapy for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013;(11):CD009764.
11/2/2017 DynaMed Plus Systematic Literature Surveillance
http://www.dynamed.com/topics/dmp~AN~T116563/Acute-exacerbation-of-COPD: Wedzicha JA, Calverley PMA, Albert RK, et al. Prevention of COPD exacerbations: a European Respiratory Society/American Thoracic Society guideline. Eur Respir J. 2017;50(3). Available at:
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Last reviewed March 2018 by Michael Woods, MD, FAAP
Last Updated: 3/30/2018