Which COPD medication class is a corticosteroid?

Which COPD medication class is a corticosteroid?

• A. Anticholinergics
• B. Beta Agonists
• C. Corticosteroids
• D. Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors

Answer: (C)

Corticosteroids are the anti-inflammatory medications used in COPD to dampen airway inflammation and reduce the frequency of exacerbations. Inhaled corticosteroids, such as budesonide or fluticasone, are the corticosteroid option within this list. They work by broadly suppressing inflammatory pathways in the airways, which helps lessen symptoms and flare-ups, especially in patients with frequent exacerbations or higher eosinophilic inflammation. They are not bronchodilators, so they don’t provide the immediate relief you get from beta agonists or anticholinergics. In contrast, anticholinergics block muscarinic receptors to prevent bronchoconstriction, beta agonists stimulate beta-2 receptors to relax airway smooth muscle, and phosphodiesterase inhibitors raise cAMP to aid bronchodilation with some anti-inflammatory effects. In practice, corticosteroids are often added to long-acting bronchodilators for patients with recurrent symptoms or inflammatory features, and may be used systemically during exacerbations.

Corticosteroids are the anti-inflammatory medications used in COPD to dampen airway inflammation and reduce the frequency of exacerbations. Inhaled corticosteroids, such as budesonide or fluticasone, are the corticosteroid option within this list. They work by broadly suppressing inflammatory pathways in the airways, which helps lessen symptoms and flare-ups, especially in patients with frequent exacerbations or higher eosinophilic inflammation. They are not bronchodilators, so they don’t provide the immediate relief you get from beta agonists or anticholinergics.

In contrast, anticholinergics block muscarinic receptors to prevent bronchoconstriction, beta agonists stimulate beta-2 receptors to relax airway smooth muscle, and phosphodiesterase inhibitors raise cAMP to aid bronchodilation with some anti-inflammatory effects. In practice, corticosteroids are often added to long-acting bronchodilators for patients with recurrent symptoms or inflammatory features, and may be used systemically during exacerbations.