At What Stage of COPD Does a Patient Use an Inhaler?

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BigEvilRx

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Just learned that my dad has been using an inhaler for COPD? Did not know he had this. He has had pneumonia and smoked for 20 years. He stopped maybe 5-7 years ago.

What stage does this suggest? I don't want to outright ask him, but am worried about his current condition. He seems alright and would have never assumed he had this disease. He does have a hacking cough. But it's not all the time.

- Worried.

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Just learned that my dad has been using an inhaler for COPD? Did not know he had this. He has had pneumonia and smoked for 20 years. He stopped maybe 5-7 years ago.

What stage does this suggest? I don't want to outright ask him, but am worried about his current condition. He seems alright and would have never assumed he had this disease. He does have a hacking cough. But it's not all the time.

- Worried.

I don't think there is anything to worry about. It will help stay away from an exacerbations. I am a med student and all the COPDer's I have managed were on an inhaler. Usually they are on spiriva and use it for maintenance therapy.
 
you really cant gauge what the severity of the disease by medications alone. More of diagnosis side of things that pick out where the patient falls. Treatment will vary within the guidelines. What kind of inhaler is he on? there are only 20 or so drugs that come by inhalation.

COPD is irreversible for the most part, but it can be controlled and stopped in its tracks if it is managed properly.
 
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Usually they are on spiriva and use it for maintenance therapy.
I hope he's not on that! What a waste of like 200 bucks!


Anybody use ipratropium bromide anymore? Geez...
 
Don't know exactly what inhaler he is on. Noticed it on the way out the door. The money is no big deal as he goes through the VA for benefits. Whatever keeps it from worsening, or slowing the rate of degradation really.

Another question, you said it doesn't worsen if on the right medication? It stops in it's tracks? So he won't be reduced to an oxygen bottle within five years, right? He's only 52.

I'll find out the type of inhaler it is.
 
Don't know exactly what inhaler he is on. Noticed it on the way out the door. The money is no big deal as he goes through the VA for benefits. Whatever keeps it from worsening, or slowing the rate of degradation really.

Another question, you said it doesn't worsen if on the right medication? It stops in it's tracks? So he won't be reduced to an oxygen bottle within five years, right? He's only 52.

I'll find out the type of inhaler it is.

Medication for COPD diseases is primarily used to prevent exacerbations. The condition itself usually only progresses if the initial causing factor persists(in your dads case it's most likely smoking.). Simply put - if you keep smoking, the condition will get worse, if you quit smoking, the disease progression should halt or slow significantly. However, once damage is done it's permanent and COPD is an irreversible disease process (aside from a lung transplant...)

As for the inhaler - it can be a number of different medications. Most likely it's a short acting beta-adrenergic bronchodilator (either albuterol or xopenex) used to help relieve acute exacerbation symptoms. It could also be a combination of albuterol and the anticholinergic bronchodilator atrovent which provides additional bronchodilatation.
 
Medication for COPD diseases is primarily used to prevent exacerbations. The condition itself usually only progresses if the initial causing factor persists(in your dads case it's most likely smoking.). Simply put - if you keep smoking, the condition will get worse, if you quit smoking, the disease progression should halt or slow significantly. However, once damage is done it's permanent and COPD is an irreversible disease process (aside from a lung transplant...)
The ability to read should be a pre-req in order to post on SDN. :eek:

I.E.- The OP said that his dad stopped smoking 5-7 years ago in the original post. Come on now... !!!
 
Don't know exactly what inhaler he is on. Noticed it on the way out the door. The money is no big deal as he goes through the VA for benefits. Whatever keeps it from worsening, or slowing the rate of degradation really.

Another question, you said it doesn't worsen if on the right medication? It stops in it's tracks? So he won't be reduced to an oxygen bottle within five years, right? He's only 52.

I'll find out the type of inhaler it is.
Im no doctor, I don't have the case in front of me either so its difficult to assess what could happen in 5 years. What I know that if correctly placed in the correct diagnostic category, given the correct medication, and have the medication be taken correctly without adherence issues with prolong him from getting worse. The trick is to see a specialist who is better trained to monitor his progress and diagose him properly and monitor his functions carefully.
 
If you really want to know the status of your father's condition it would be best addressed with him. Go to the VA with him on his next appointment if you like, but given that this is a web forum, it's not the best place to ask the staging of a disease, possible progression, or proper treatment course. If you really don't want to discuss it with your dad talk with a licensed physician, pulmonologist, etc in person.
 
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