MeReC Bulletin - COPD
The National Prescribing Centre (NPC) has published a MeReC Bulletin (PDF) that discusses recent safety issues with inhaled treatments for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
The bulletin reviews the benefits of long acting bronchodilators and inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) in patients with COPD and then details the safety issues for long-acting beta2 agonists (LABAs), anticholinergics and ICS individually.
The article concludes with a review of the factors to consider when making treatment choices. This includes a reminder that treatment options should be trialled in patients with COPD and discontinued if there is no benefit.
Action: Clinicians involved in the management of patients with COPD will find this bulletin useful and informative.
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