Abstract

A REVIEW ON THE PHARMACOTHERAPY OF CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE

Minol Vijayan*

Abstract

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is one of the leading causes of mortality and morbidity worldwide. In addition to generating high healthcare costs, COPD imposes a significant burden in terms of disability and impaired quality of life. Unlike many leading causes of death and disability, COPD is projected to increase in many regions of the world as the frequency of smoking is rising and the population is aging. Smoking cessation is the only intervention that has proved effective. The pharmacological treatment of COPD includes bronchodilators to relax smooth muscle, such as β2-agonists (salbutamol, terbutaline, and fenoterol, short-acting β2-agonists as well as salmeterol, formoterol, and indacaterol, and long-acting β2-agonists) and anticholinergics, such as ipratropium, oxitropium (short-acting anticholinergic), and tiotropium (long-acting anticholinergic). Although airway inflammation in COPD poorly responds to steroids, several inhaled corticosteroids (fluticasone, budesonide, and beclomethasone) are in use in combination with long-acting β2-agonists. Other medications include theophylline (both a bronchodilator and a phosphodiesterase inhibitor) and the phosphodiesterase-4 antagonists, such as roflumilast. New pharmacological strategies for COPD need to be developed because the current treatment is inadequate.

Keywords: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, bronchodilators, ?2 adrenoceptor agonists, corticosteroids, methylxanthines.