NURS5205 Chap.8 Asthma and COPD Pharmacotherapy
Asthma and COPD Pharmacotherapy
Asthma and COPD are different diseases that may use similar medicine classes and inhaler devices. This chapter preserves that distinction by comparing airflow patterns, treatment goals, symptom and exacerbation review, anti-inflammatory roles, bronchodilation and non-drug care. Device technique is treated as part of delivered exposure, while urgent respiratory assessment always comes before routine education.
What this chapter covers
- 01
Asthma and COPD comparison
- 02
Airflow limitation and clinical pattern
- 03
Controller and reliever roles
- 04
Bronchodilator treatment goals
- 05
Inhaler device technique
- 06
Symptoms, exacerbations and review
- 07
Non-drug respiratory care
Worked example · free
Frequent reliever use with poor technique
- +1This practice mark allocation is not an official University scheme. Assess symptoms, night waking, activity, reliever frequency, exacerbations and urgent features.
- +1Ask for a device demonstration and correct the exact device-specific step preventing delivery.
- +1Review adherence to the anti-inflammatory plan and likely triggers.
- +1Arrange timely review and reinforce action-plan escalation advice under the current care plan.
Key terms
- Asthma control
- The current symptom and activity burden considered together with future exacerbation risk.
- COPD exacerbation
- An acute worsening of respiratory symptoms beyond usual day-to-day variation that requires additional treatment.
- Controller therapy
- Regular treatment intended to reduce underlying disease activity and future risk rather than provide only immediate relief.
- Inhaler technique
- The device-specific sequence required to deliver medicine effectively to the airways.
Asthma and COPD Pharmacotherapy FAQ
Why can similar inhalers mean different things in asthma and COPD?
The diseases have different pathophysiology, patterns and treatment priorities. A shared bronchodilator or device does not create an identical plan. State the medicine role, disease goal, review criteria and patient context for the condition in the case.
Why should technique be checked before calling treatment ineffective?
Poor device use can reduce delivered exposure despite a correct prescription. A demonstration can reveal coordination, preparation, inspiratory or breath-hold errors. Technique review does not replace assessment of adherence, control, diagnosis, triggers or severe features.
When does education stop being the first priority?
Severe breathlessness, inability to speak normally, exhaustion, altered consciousness or other urgent findings require immediate assessment and escalation. Device teaching and long-term review follow stabilisation rather than delaying time-critical care.
What should an asthma control review include?
Ask about daytime symptoms, night waking, activity, reliever use, exacerbations and future risk. Then check technique, adherence, triggers and whether the anti-inflammatory plan is being used as intended.
What does COPD review add beyond inhalers?
Symptom burden, function, exacerbations, smoking status, vaccination, pulmonary rehabilitation and comorbidity all matter. Medicines sit inside a broader chronic disease plan rather than replacing non-drug management.
Why is teach-back useful for inhaler education?
A patient demonstration shows whether the corrected sequence can be performed and retained. It also reveals dexterity, coordination or inspiratory limitations that may require device review rather than repeated verbal instruction.
How should shared medicine classes be compared?
Use the same dimensions for both diseases: treatment role, expected benefit, adverse effects, device demands and review criteria. This shows why a similar class can occupy a different place in asthma and COPD pathways.
Why is frequent reliever use important?
It can signal poor symptom control and increased future risk rather than a complete management strategy. Review severity, technique, adherence, triggers and the anti-inflammatory plan instead of simply advising more frequent use.
What can prevent effective inhaler delivery?
Poor preparation, coordination, inspiratory pattern, breath hold, device care or physical ability can reduce delivery. A demonstration identifies the actual barrier and whether technique teaching or device review is needed.
How should an exacerbation history be used?
Past acute episodes contribute evidence about future risk and treatment adequacy. Ask about timing, triggers, healthcare use and recovery, then connect the pattern to review rather than treating today in isolation.
Why ask the patient to name each inhaler's purpose?
Purpose reveals whether regular and as-needed medicines are being confused. Correct hand movements cannot produce a safe plan when the patient uses the right device at the wrong time.
Exam move
Build a side-by-side asthma and COPD table with disease pattern, treatment goal, medicine roles, non-drug care and review criteria. Practise device demonstrations separately because technique is not transferable across every inhaler. In cases, screen urgent features first, then assess control or symptom burden, technique, adherence and triggers.
Explain why a shared medicine class occupies a different pathway rather than memorising one respiratory list. Rehearse a device teach-back with purpose, sequence, care and action-plan advice. Add cases in which technique is poor but urgent severity is absent, then contrast them with severe presentations where stabilisation must precede education.
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