Symptom Finder - Treatment of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
CHRONIC OBSTRUCTION PULMONARY DISEASE (COPD)
1. Counseling to eliminate smoking in the patient and family or other members of the household is essential.
2. Careful evaluation of toxic fumes or cigarette smoking at the job site should be evaluated.
3. Careful testing to eliminate asthmatic or allergic factors in the condition should be done as well as α-1 antitrypsin deficiency.
4. Ipratropium (Atrovent HFA): 2–4 puffs qid.
5. Tiotropium (Spiriva): one inhalation daily.
6. Albuterol (Proventil): 2 puffs qid or salmeterol (Serevent): one inhalation bid may be tried.
7. A trial of inhaled corticosteroids such as fluticasone (Flovent): 2–4 puffs bid or oral corticosteroids such as prednisone: 2.5–15 mg on alternate days or 4 days weekly may be beneficial.
8. Continuous O2 2–4 L/mm may be needed.
9. It is wise to consult a pulmonologist at the outset.
10. Make sure these patients get enough fluid as there is a trend toward dehydration because of hyperventilation.
1. Counseling to eliminate smoking in the patient and family or other members of the household is essential.
2. Careful evaluation of toxic fumes or cigarette smoking at the job site should be evaluated.
3. Careful testing to eliminate asthmatic or allergic factors in the condition should be done as well as α-1 antitrypsin deficiency.
4. Ipratropium (Atrovent HFA): 2–4 puffs qid.
5. Tiotropium (Spiriva): one inhalation daily.
6. Albuterol (Proventil): 2 puffs qid or salmeterol (Serevent): one inhalation bid may be tried.
7. A trial of inhaled corticosteroids such as fluticasone (Flovent): 2–4 puffs bid or oral corticosteroids such as prednisone: 2.5–15 mg on alternate days or 4 days weekly may be beneficial.
8. Continuous O2 2–4 L/mm may be needed.
9. It is wise to consult a pulmonologist at the outset.
10. Make sure these patients get enough fluid as there is a trend toward dehydration because of hyperventilation.