title: Inhaled therapy for stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
abstract: Bronchodilators (anticholinergic drugs and beta2-agonist drugs) represent the mainstay of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease treatment and can be combined with inhaled corticosteroids for greater efficacy. This review examines the role of short- and long-acting cholinergic drugs, together with that of short- and long-acting beta2-agonist drugs. A brief analysis of the long-term use of corticosteroids in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is made, with a review of the safety and possible side effects. Combination therapy is more frequently used due to its practicality and capacity to enhance compliance. The main studies on treatment combinations are also analyzed in this paper.
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Pulmonary Disease, 30 Dr I Cihac Str700115, Iasi, Romania. sabinaantoniu@excite.com
authors.forename: Sabina A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Antoniu
authors.forename: Traian
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mihaescu
authors.forename: Claudio F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Donner
mesh_terms: D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D058666:Adrenergic beta-2 Receptor Agonists; D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018680:Cholinergic Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006801:Humans; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D058666:Adrenergic beta-2 Receptor Agonists; D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents; D018680:Cholinergic Antagonists; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations