COPD management

Abstract

The pillars of the pharmacologic treatment in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) consist of an inhaled long-acting muscarinic antagonist (LAMA) or a long-acting β2-agonist (LABA) or the combination of both. The inhaled corticosteroid (ICS)/LABA-combination is only indicated to prevent exacerbations. In 07/2017 a new fixed triple combination containing beclometasone/formoterol/glycopyrronium has been approved for moderate to severe COPD patients. This paper puts new treatment paradigms in the management of COPD such as tentative use of ICS into perspective and further discusses other pharmacological options such as roflumilast and mucolytic drugs.