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Suggest Treatment For Breathing Difficulty While Having COPD

Posted on Thu, 5 Jan 2017

Question: I have copd and am having trouble breathing

Answered by Dr. Shashi Dangwal (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
You need a course of antibiotics and oral steroids.

Detailed Answer:

Hello Mr XXXXXXX

Thanks for posting your query on HCM.

You have not given the details of your medicines.

Have your symptoms increased? Acute exacerbations in COPD are known and are generally triggered by respiratory tract infections. During exacerbations you need to take a course of antibiotics and a short course of oral steroids in addition to your regular inhalers and other COPD medicines. Please consult your PCP for doses of antibiotics and oral steroids.

I do not know what inhalers you are taking but symbicort/seroflo and tiova are preferred inhalers in COPD.

If you are a smoker you should stop smokoing.

Take care.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Veerisetty Shyamkumar

Follow up: Dr. Shashi Dangwal (11 hours later)

My meds are inhalers delura,symbicort,spryiva and negulizer b12, Tenormin,zocor,asprin 81mg,. I quit smoking about 5 yrs ago, not soon enough I know and I worked in welding for several years. My problem yesterday was all of sudden not being able to breath . Today is better but I wonder if the problem will return latter on today.

Answered by Dr. Shashi Dangwal (8 hours later)

Brief Answer:
If breathlessness recurrs, visit your PCP.

Detailed Answer:

Your inhalers and other meds are fine. However acute exacerbations may still occur despite being on medicines. Any sudden onset breathlessness in a case of COPD needs to be investigated and treated. You should atleast get a chest xray and CBC done. In case breathlessness recurrs , do visit your PCP and if required a pulmonologist locally.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Remy Koshy