Before you begin, have you completed the first two modules in this series about COPD?
Part one: Understanding COPD
Part two: Guidelines and management

Following the guidelines and non-pharmacological management outlined in the previous module, this module considers the pharmacological management options for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). These are used to control symptoms, reduce the frequency and severity of exacerbations, improve health status and improve exercise tolerance.

There is still no conclusive evidence from clinical trials that existing medicines modify the long-term decline in lung function associated with the disease. Stopping smoking is the most effective means of modifying COPD, leading to a sustained reduction in the rate of lung function decline.

The following abbreviations are used in this module: