ORIGINAL TEXT
COPD Medications
There are many medications available to treat COPD symptoms. It’s important to remember – there is
no “best” medicine for everyone. Each person’s COPD is different, so don’t give up when your COPD
keeps you from enjoying everyday activities. Instead, team up with your doctor to create a COPD Action
and Management Plan with medications that can help you overcome your symptoms. Remember – the
right medications can improve breathing, prevent symptoms, reduce the frequency and severity of flareups, improve your health statues, and improve the ability to exercise.
Some simple game plans for your medication
To help care for yourself while taking medicine for your breathing trouble:





Carry a list of your current medications and a list of allergies, if you have any
If possible, get your prescriptions filled at one pharmacy, where the pharmacist will be aware
of your complete medication and allergy history. This way, the pharmacist will be able to let you
and your doctor know about any drug or food interactions.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist about possible side effects of the medicine you are taking.
Always ask your doctor about new medicines that may be available for your breathing
problems.
Log in to MyHumana, your secure Website on Humana.com, for tools and resources to help you
manage your breathing problems. You can watch videos, listen to online library topics, and visit
other sites to learn more about conditions that can affect your breathing.
Many Medicines – One Goal
Finding out how medications work, and how to take them regularly and effectively, is an important step
toward better breathing. If you take them correctly, the medicines can greatly relieve your shortness of
breath.
Your doctor can recommend a variety of medicines to assist your breathing. The most common
medication types are:




Bronchodilators to open up the airways so that more air can move through and prevent and
reverse tightening of the muscles around the airways – called bronchospasm
Anti-inflammatories to reduce the swelling of your airways
Antibiotics if you have infection or worsening attacks
Expectorants to loosen the mucus in your airways and make breathing easier by helping you get
rid of the excess mucus, or sputum.
ORIGINAL TEXT
Don’t let obstacles stop you
Some common reasons for not taking medication include:





“I don’t have time” – A minute or two right now can save you a lot of suffering later on.
“I don’t have the money” –Try to set aside money for your medications and ask your doctor
about lower-cost alternatives that may be just as effective. Log into MyHumana, your secure
Website on Humana.com and use Rx Calculator to find out how much you’ve spent on
prescriptions so far this plan year and estimate possible future savings.
“I feel fine right now” – Some medications you take now for shortness of breath need to be
taken even if you feel fine. They help you prevent flare ups that can further harm your lungs
later.
“I’ve run out of medicine” – Always buy your next prescription before your current one runs
out. If you have access to RightSourceSM Humana’s prescription home- delivery service, you can
get 90-day prescriptions, and receive refill reminders. To find out how you can save time and
money with RightSource visit us at RightSourceRx.com.
“I’m not sure how I’m supposed to take them” – When you have questions about your
medicines, write them down and remember to ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Smog Grade: 16.32
TRACK CHANGES
COPD Medicineations
There are many medicinesations available used to treat COPD symptoms. It’s important to remember –
tThere is no “best” medicine for everyone. Each person’s COPD is different, so don’t give up when your
COPD keeps you from enjoying everyday activitiesthe things you like to do. Instead, team up with your
doctor to createand make a COPD Action and Management Plan. You and your doctor will find with the
medicinesations that can help you overcome your symptomsmost. Remember – t The right
medicinesations can improve breathinghelp you breathe better. They can, prevent help control your
symptoms and lower the chance for , reduce the frequency and severity of flare-ups., They help keep
you healthy improve your health statues, and improve the ability to and make it easier for you to
exercise and be active.
Some simple game plans for your medicationhelpful tips
To help care for yourself whileIf you are taking medicine for your breathing trouble, here are some
things to keep in mind:





Carry a list of your currentall the medications medicines you take, and a list of allergies, if you
have any. Keep these lists up to date.
If possible, get your prescriptions filled at one pharmacy, where the pharmacist will be aware
of your completeknows your medication and allergyhealth history. This way, the pharmacist will
be able tocan let you and your doctor know about any drug or food interactionsany problems
that could happen when you are taking your medicies.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist about possible any side effects of the medicines you are
takingtake.
Always ask your doctor about new medicines that may be available forhelp your breathing
problems.
Log in to MyHumana, your secure Website on Humana.com, . You’ll find for tools and resources
to help you manage with your breathing problems. You can watch videos and read or , listen to
online library topicshelpful information., You will also find links and visitto other sites to where
you can learn more about conditions that can affect your breathingbreathing problems and
what you can do about them.
TRACK CHANGES
Many Medicines – One Goal
Finding out how your medicineations work, and how to take them regularly and effectively, is an
important step toward better breathing. If you take them correctly, the medicines can greatly
relievehelp with your shortness of breath.
Your doctor can recommend a variety ofuse many medicines to assist help youyour breathe betterhing.
The most common medicationSome of the medicines used types are:




Bronchodilators to open up the airways so that more air can move through your lungs and
prevent and reverse tightening of the muscles around the airways – called bronchospasm
Anti-inflammatories to lreduce ower the swelling of your airways
Antibiotics if you haveto treat an infection or worsening attacks
Expectorants to loosen and get rid of the mucus in your airways and make breathing easier by
helping you get rid of the excess mucus, or sputum.
Don’t let obstacles stop youThere’s no excuse for not taking your medicine
Most people don’t like taking medicine. It’s easy to find an excuse or reason not to. But when you don’t
take your medicine, you breathing problems can get worse. Here are some Some common reasons for
not taking medication excuses you may have and tips to help you get past them:include:





“I don’t have time” – A minute or two right now can save you a lot of suffering later on.
“I don’t have the money” –Try to set asidesave money for your medications medicines. You
canand ask your doctor about lower-cost alternativesother medicines that cost lest but will still
work for you. that may be just as effective. Log into MyHumana, your secure Website on
Humana.com. and uUse Rx Calculator to find out how much you’ve spent on prescriptions so
far this plan year and estimate possible future savingslearn about how you can lover costs.
“I feel fine right now” – Some medications medicines you take now for shortness of breath
need to be taken even if you feel fine. They help you preventkeep flare ups from happening
that can further harm your lungs later.
“I’ve run out of medicine” – Always buy order moreyour next prescription medicine before your
current one runsyou run out. If you have access to RightSourceSM Humana’s prescription homedelivery service, you can get 90-day prescriptions. You can also get reminders when it’s time to
refill your medicines., and receive refill reminders. To find out how you can save time and
money with RightSource visit us at RightSourceRx.com.
“I’m not sure how I’m supposed to take them” – When you have questions about your
medicines, write them down and remember to ask your doctor or pharmacist.
REVISED TEXT
COPD Medicine
There are many medicines used to treat COPD symptoms. There is no “best” medicine. Each person’s
COPD is different, so don’t give up when your COPD keeps you from enjoying the things you like to do.
Instead, team up with your doctor and make a COPD Action and Management Plan. You and your doctor
will find the medicines that can help you most. The right medicines can help you breathe better. They
can help control your symptoms and lower the chance for flare-ups. They help keep you healthy and
make it easier for you to exercise and be active.
Some helpful tips
If you are taking medicine for your breathing trouble, here are some things to keep in mind:





Carry a list of all the medicines you take, and a list of allergies, if you have any. Keep these lists
up to date.
If possible, get your prescriptions filled at one pharmacy, where the pharmacist knows your
health history. This way, the pharmacist can let you and your doctor know about any problems
that could happen when you are taking your medicies.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist about any side effects of the medicines you take.
Always ask your doctor about new medicines that may help your breathing problems.
Log in to MyHumana, your secure Website on Humana.com. You’ll find tools and resources to
help you with your breathing problems. You can watch videos and read or listen to helpful
information. You will also find links to other sites where you can learn more about breathing
problems and what you can do about them.
Many Medicines – One Goal
Finding out how your medicines work, and how to take them, is an important step toward better
breathing. If you take them correctly, the medicines can help with your shortness of breath.
Your doctor can use many medicines to help you breathe better. Some of the medicines used are:




Bronchodilators to open up the airways so that more air can move through your lungs
Anti-inflammatories to lower the swelling of your airways
Antibiotics to treat an infection
Expectorants to loosen and get rid of mucus in your airways
There’s no excuse for not taking your medicine
Most people don’t like taking medicine. It’s easy to find an excuse or reason not to. But when you don’t
take your medicine, you breathing problems can get worse. Here are some excuses you may have and
tips to help you get past them:

“I don’t have time” – A minute or two right now can save you a lot of suffering later on.
REVISED TEXT




“I don’t have the money” –Try to save money for your medicines. You can ask your doctor
about other medicines that cost lest but will still work for you. Log into MyHumana, your secure
Website on Humana.com. Use Rx Calculator to find out how much you’ve spent on prescriptions
so far this year and learn about how you can lover costs.
“I feel fine right now” – Some medicines you take now for shortness of breath need to be taken
even if you feel fine. They help keep flare ups from happening that can harm your lungs later.
“I’ve run out of medicine” – Always order more medicine before you run out. If you have access
to RightSourceSM Humana’s prescription home- delivery service, you can get 90-day
prescriptions. You can also get reminders when it’s time to refill your medicines. To find out how
you can save time and money with RightSource visit RightSourceRx.com.
“I’m not sure how I’m supposed to take them” – When you have questions about your
medicines, write them down and remember to ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Smog Grade: 10.13