PlushCare / Online Doctor / Primary Care / COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
In order to treat your COPD, consult with one of our board-certified doctors online today to get a prescription that will help you breathe easier. Get a new prescription to treat COPD or refill an existing prescription today.
Medication services available 24/7 for adults and kids (3+)
Top quality, board-certified doctors
No insurance needed
Same-day prescriptions available*
*Prescriptions provided at doctor’s discretion.
Most patients with in-network insurance pay $30 or less. Otherwise, new patient visits are $129 and follow-ups are only $69 for members.
Step 1
Book a same day appointment from anywhere.
Step 2
Visit with a doctor on your smartphone or computer.
Step 3
We can send prescriptions to any local pharmacy.
Step 1
Book a same day appointment from anywhere.
Step 2
Visit with a doctor on your smartphone or computer.
Step 3
We can send prescriptions to any local pharmacy.
How pricing works
To request COPD treatment and get a new or refill on your prescription, join our monthly membership and get discounted visits
$14.99/month
First month free
Copay
For all visits
Often the same as an office visit. Most patients with in-network insurance pay $30 or less!
$14.99/month
First month free
$129
Repeats only $69
Initial visits are $129 and follow-ups are only $69 for active members.
If we're unable to treat you, we'll provide a full refund.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a group of progressive lung diseases that make it harder to breathe. Of these conditions, chronic bronchitis and emphysema are the most common.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or chronic obstructive lung disease, happens when damage occurs in the small airways and air sacs in the lungs. When these structures become damaged, they block normal airflow, leading to airway obstruction.
According to the American Lung Association, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease affects millions of people in the United States. Fortunately, this lung disease is often preventable and treatable. Treatment options for COPD can help you manage symptoms, make healthy lifestyle changes, and find support.
Over time, irritants can damage the lungs, causing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). These lung irritants can come from:
The toxins in cigarettes can weaken the lungs’ defense against respiratory infections, narrow air passages, and cause airway inflammation.
Environmental lung irritants can play a role in COPD. For example, long-term exposure to air pollution, secondhand smoke, and chemicals can lead to COPD.
A rare form of COPD, alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency-related emphysema, is caused by an alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency. A genetic condition that affects the body’s ability to produce alpha-1 antitrypsin, which protects the lungs, can cause people to develop COPD.
Multiple COPD medications are used to treat symptoms, and there's no "best" medication for all people. COPD medication can help you breathe easier, live an active life, and have fewer symptom flare-ups. Your doctor will consider your medical history and symptoms to determine the best treatment for you. Medications for COPD treatment include:
Many people with COPD experience flare-ups with increased coughing, mucus production, and shortness of breath. These flare-ups can be caused by bacterial or viral lung infections. If you develop a bacterial infection, your doctor may prescribe antibiotics.
Anticholinergics are short-acting bronchodilators. These medications prevent the muscles around your airways from tightening, which helps keep your airways open and clear mucus from your lungs.
Corticosteroids help reduce airway inflammation and mucus production. They can be inhaled with an inhaler device or swallowed as a pill.
COPD is highly preventable. If you’re concerned about developing COPD, take the following steps to lower your risk.
Talk to your doctor if:
Seek immediate medical attention if:
Emphysema
Dyspnea
Many people with COPD experience mild symptoms, where little treatment is needed beyond smoking cessation. For more advanced COPD, treatment focuses on relieving symptoms, reducing the risk of complications, and treating chronic breathing problems.
Not all people with COPD have the same symptoms, and treatment will vary from person to person. Treatment options for COPD include:
For most people, COPD symptoms don't appear until the lungs have experienced significant damage. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease symptoms typically worsen over time, and continued exposure to lung irritants can further aggravate COPD symptoms.
There’s no “best” treatment for COPD, and the right treatment for you will depend on your specific symptoms. For most people, short-acting bronchodilator inhalers can help make breathing easier by relaxing the airways.
Depending on your COPD symptoms, your doctor may prescribe anti-inflammatory medications, bronchodilators, or other medications to make breathing easier.
In some cases, your doctor may recommend antibiotics or antihistamines to treat infections or improve symptoms.
If you’re quitting smoking to treat COPD, talk to your doctor about smoking cessation medication.
Some common smoking cessation medications we prescribe include:
Nicotine (e.g., NicoDerm CQ, Nicorette, and Nicotrol)
Bupropion (e.g., Zyban, Wellbutrin, and Aplenzin)
Clonidine (e.g., Catapres)
Nortriptyline (e.g., Pamelor)
No, damaged lung tissue cannot repair itself. However, seeking COPD treatment can help you slow the progression of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, manage your symptoms, and live a healthy life.
