Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) inhalers are very common in the COPD treatment. But, it is difficult to understand which-is-which and also what-does-what may be confusing. COPD inhalers may contain either a single medicine or a combination of medicines in an inhaler like a corticosteroid, a bronchodilator, a combination of corticosteroid and bronchodilator or a combination of bronchodilators.
Following are some common COPD inhalers available in today’s market:
- Combivent: This has two bronchodilators such as ipratropium which is an anticholingeric and albuterol which is a beta agonist. A combination of bronchodilator inhalers such as Combivent increases the effect of bronchodilator medication with similar or less adverse effects.
- Symbicort: Basically, Symbicort is used for treating asthma. This medication was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in February 2009 for treating COPD. This medication has formotorol. Formotorol is a beta-agonist, long acting bronchodilator as well as budesonide, a corticosteroid.
- Advair: This is a combination of two medicines – salmeterol, a beta-agonist and a long acting bronchodilator, and fluticasone, a corticosteroid. This medication is used for maintaining the treating of COPD.
- Atrovent: This contains ipratropium. Ipratropium is an anticholinergic bronchodilator. This is used for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
- Proventil: This is a rescue inhaler. This contains albuterol. Albuterol is a beta-agonist, a short acting bronchodilator that aids in relaxing the airways immediately and makes it easier to inhale. Often, this medication is used for sudden episodes of breathing problems associated with bronchospasm in both COPD and asthma patients.
- Spiriva: Spiriva is used for treating COPD. This contains a medicine known as tiotropium. Tiotropium is an anticholinergic bronchodilator. This relaxes and opens the airways and makes it easy to breathe.
- Pulmicort: This contains a corticosteroid, called budesonide that aids in reducing the airways inflammation and makes it easy to breathe. This is used for the treatment of COPD.
