When your COPD treatment isn't enough: 5 signs it's time to talk to your doctor

(BPT) - Sponsored by GSK

Are you finding that your chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is making it harder to do the things you enjoy? Canceling plans more often? Missing work due to flare-ups? It could mean your COPD symptoms aren't under control. If you're feeling frustrated because your current treatment plan just isn't cutting it, you're not alone.

"I get too emotional talking about my disease, so I prefer to stay home and not have to explain myself," a person living with COPD said.

But these symptoms are not going to just go away, which can leave you out of moments you enjoy in life.

"I'm a spectator to life; I cannot participate in the things that bring me joy," a person living with COPD shared.

Treatment for COPD

The unfortunate truth about COPD is that it's a progressive disease, which means your treatment plan may need to evolve over time. While there's no cure for COPD, there are treatment options that can help manage your symptoms and help reduce flare-ups.[1]

Because each person's COPD is different, and there are varying stages of the disease, your treatment plan may involve several therapies recommended by your healthcare team.

COPD treatment plans typically include a daily maintenance inhaler, yet 50% of people living with COPD still experience flare-ups while they're being treated with maintenance therapies.[2] That's where "add-on" treatments come in - designed to supplement your current treatment regimen, not replace it.

Signs your COPD treatment may not be enough

Here are five key signs that may indicate it's time to discuss add-on treatment options with your doctor to help you better manage your symptoms.

1. Increased shortness of breath.Do you find it harder to catch your breath while doing everyday activities, like climbing a flight of stairs or going for a walk? While you may have seen initial improvement with your daily maintenance inhaler, shortness of breath is becoming more constant.

2. More frequent or severe coughing.Are you coughing more often, including severe coughs that produce mucus?

3. More frequent COPD flare-ups.Have you had more flare-ups, possibly leading to ER visits or hospitalizations? Hospitalization is a common and concerning outcome of COPD exacerbations or flare-ups. In fact, 1 in 5 COPD patients will require hospital admission during a flare-up.[3]

4. Worsening fatigue. Are you constantly feeling tired, even after resting?

5. Increased anxiety or depression. The daily physical challenges of this chronic disease can impact your mood,[4] especially as COPD can make it difficult to participate in activities you enjoy. While add-on treatments for COPD cannot treat anxiety and depression, by preventing flare-ups, your overall day to day may be more manageable with fewer disruptions. Reducing the frequency of flare-ups may help you avoid potential interruptions to your life, including doctor's visits or, in some cases, hospitalizations.

What you can do

When you experience increasing symptoms, keep a log of when and how often you notice them. This can help you discuss your concerns with your doctor.

Talking about your COPD symptoms can be tough, but it's the first step to improving control. By keeping your doctor informed, you become a partner in finding the right treatment plan to help you minimize the impact of COPD on your life.

An add-on treatment that may help

NUCALA (mepolizumab) injection 100 mg/mL is a prescription medicine newly approved as an add-on maintenance treatment of eosinophilic COPD in adults whose disease is not controlled. NUCALA is not used to treat sudden breathing problems.

NUCALA works by targeting inflammation that plays a major role in COPD. NUCALA reduces blood eosinophils, which are a type of white blood cell that may contribute to your disease.

NUCALA offers convenient once-monthly (every 4 weeks) dosing with the flexibility to be administered at home or through in-office treatment by a physician.

Important Safety Information

Do not use NUCALA if you are allergic to mepolizumab or any of the ingredients in NUCALA.

Do not use to treat sudden breathing problems.

NUCALA can cause serious side effects, including:

• allergic (hypersensitivity) reactions, including anaphylaxis. Serious allergic reactions can happen after you get your NUCALA injection. Allergic reactions can sometimes happen hours or days after you get a dose of NUCALA. Tell your healthcare provider or get emergency help right away if you have any of the following symptoms of an allergic reaction: swelling of your face, mouth, and tongue; breathing problems; fainting, dizziness, feeling lightheaded (low blood pressure); rash; hives.
• herpes zoster infections that can cause shingles have happened in people who received NUCALA.

Before receiving NUCALA, tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you:

• are taking oral or inhaled corticosteroid medicines. Do not stop taking your other medicines, including your corticosteroid medicines, unless instructed by your healthcare provider because this may cause other symptoms to come back.
• have a parasitic (helminth) infection.
• are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if NUCALA may harm your unborn baby.
• are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. You and your healthcare provider should decide if you will use NUCALA and breastfeed. You should not do both without talking with your healthcare provider first.
• are taking prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

The most common side effects of NUCALA include: headache, injection site reactions (pain, redness, swelling, itching, or a burning feeling at the injection site), back pain, and tiredness (fatigue). Diarrhea and cough have been reported with COPD.

Looking for help with your COPD? Talk to your doctor today and ask if NUCALA is right for you. Visit NUCALA.com/copd to learn more and see full Prescribing Information and Patient Information.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088. You may also report negative side effects to GSK at gsk.public.reportum.com or call 1-888-825-5249.

The news, reports, views and opinions of authors (or source) expressed are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of CRWE World.