Once you’re diagnosed with COPD, your doctor will recommend a treatment plan, which may consist of medication and simple rehabilitation exercises to help improve your breathing. To help lower your risk of pneumonia and/or flu, your doctor may also administer vaccines. Your personal treatment plan will depend on the severity of your COPD at the time you’re diagnosed and may need to be modified over time.
While medication and breathing exercises may help make it easier to breathe with COPD, there’s one more crucial step you need to take. If you haven’t already done so, quit smoking; if you have quit smoking, resist the urge to start again.
In fact, quitting smoking is the only way to slow the progressive lung damage you experience as the symptoms of COPD. And because COPD may be associated with other related health conditions, the more you think about it, the more you realize the time to quit smoking—and quit for good—is now.
Because COPD is an ongoing condition that never goes away, your doctor may recommend a medication you’ll take every day, to help keep your airways open continuously. Doctors call such treatments maintenance medications because they help people with COPD manage their condition over the long term. In addition to your maintenance medication, your doctor will likely prescribe a rescue medication for times when your breathing suddenly gets worse.
To make the most of your treatment plan, follow it to the letter, every day. Many people find a few simple steps are all they need to “get in the groove” and take their maintenance medication on a regular basis. Here are a few tips:
Depending on the severity of your COPD, your doctor may recommend you enroll in a pulmonary rehab program. Over the course of 6 to 12 weeks, pulmonary rehab can help you breathe as effectively and comfortably as you can, now that you’re living with COPD.
Important Safety Information
COMBIVENT Inhalation Aerosol is indicated for use in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) on a regular aerosol bronchodilator who continue to have evidence of bronchospasm and who require a second bronchodilator.
COMBIVENT Inhalation Aerosol should not be used in patients who:
COMBIVENT Inhalation Aerosol can cause the narrowing of the airways to get worse (paradoxical bronchospasm) in some patients, which may be life threatening. If this happens, stop taking COMBIVENT Inhalation Aerosol at once and call your doctor or get emergency help.
COMBIVENT Inhalation Aerosol can cause serious allergic reactions. Symptoms include itching, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat (which may cause difficulty in breathing or swallowing), skin rash, hives, bronchospasm (airway narrowing), or anaphylaxis. If you experience any of these symptoms stop taking COMBIVENT Inhalation Aerosol at once and call your doctor or get emergency help.
COMBIVENT Inhalation Aerosol can cause serious heart-related side effects, such as an increase in pulse, blood pressure, and/or related symptoms.
Deaths have been reported with similar inhaled medicines in asthma patients who use the medicine too much. Do not use COMBIVENT Inhalation Aerosol more often than your healthcare provider has directed.
Certain medical conditions may increase your risk of side effects.
Tell your healthcare provider about all your conditions and medicines you take, including if you:
Read the step-by-step Patient's Instructions for use before using this medicine.
Remember to vigorously shake your COMBIVENT Inhalation Aerosol for 10 seconds before each use or inhalation.
Do not get the spray into your eyes.
The most common side effects reported with use of COMBIVENT Inhalation Aerosol include bronchitis, infection of the ears, nose, and throat, headache, shortness of breath, and cough.
Please see accompanying full Prescribing Information including Patient Instructions for Use.
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.