Table 2.
Medications for COPD currently available in Canada
| MEDICATION | DEVICE | USUAL DOSE |
|---|---|---|
| SABAs | ||
| • Salbutamol | Metered-dose inhaler | 1–2 puffs inhaled 4 times daily as needed |
| Diskus | 1 puff inhaled 4 times daily as needed | |
| Nebule | 2.5 mg inhaled 4 times daily as needed | |
| • Terbutaline | Turbuhaler | 1 puff inhaled 4 times daily as needed |
| SAMA | ||
| • Ipratropium | Metered-dose inhaler | 2 puffs inhaled 4 times daily as needed |
| Nebule | 500 µg inhaled 4 times daily as needed | |
| Combination SABA and SAMA | ||
| • Salbutamol and ipratropium | Nebule | 1 ampoule inhaled 4 times daily as needed |
| Respimat | 1 puff inhaled 4 times daily as needed | |
| LAMAs | ||
| • Tiotropium | HandiHaler | 1 capsule inhaled once daily |
| Respimat | 2 puffs inhaled once daily | |
| • Aclidinium | Genuair | 1 puff inhaled twice daily |
| • Glycopyrronium | Breezhaler | 1 capsule inhaled once daily |
| • Umeclidinium | Ellipta | 1 puff inhaled once daily |
| LABAs | ||
| • Salmeterol | Diskus | 1 puff inhaled twice daily |
| • Formoterol | Aerolizer | 1 capsule inhaled twice daily |
| Turbuhaler | 6–12 µg inhaled twice daily | |
| • Indacaterol | Breezhaler | 1 capsule inhaled once daily |
| • Olodaterol | Respimat | 2 puffs inhaled once daily |
| Combination LAMA and LABA | ||
| • Umeclidinium and vilanterol | Ellipta | 1 puff inhaled once daily |
| • Glycopyrronium and indacaterol | Breezhaler | 1 puff inhaled once daily |
| • Tiotropium and olodaterol | Respimat | 2 puffs inhaled once daily |
| • Aclidinium and formoterol | Genuair | 1 puff inhaled twice daily |
| Combination LABA and ICS | ||
| • Formoterol and budesonide | Turbuhaler | 12 µg and 400 µg inhaled twice daily |
| • Salmeterol and fluticasone | Diskus | 50 µg and 250 µg inhaled twice daily |
| • Vilanterol and fluticasone | Ellipta | 1 puff inhaled once daily |
COPD—chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, ICS—inhaled corticosteroid, LABA—long-acting β-agonist, LAMA—long-acting muscarinic antagonist, SABA—short-acting β-agonist, SAMA—short-acting muscarinic antagonist.