Riversidehealth.co.uk

This leaflet is to help you recognise when you are having a flare up of your COPD/bronchitis. Early treatment of flare ups can reduce your chance of going to hospital. Flare ups start with either a change in your sputum or a worsening of your breathlessness. If this happens, follow the instructions below.
IF AT ANY TIME YOU ARE UNSURE WHAT TO DO, PLEASE CONTACT YOUR PRACTICE NURSE,
DELMA HEADLAND, OR YOUR GP.
• Think about your sputum (cough some onto a white tissue to inspect colour). Are you getting more sputum than usual, or has your sputum changed colour from clear or pale to darker yellow or green? • If so, this is a sign of infection; start your antibiotics.
Your antibiotics are:
• Amoxicillin 500mg. Take three times a day for 7days (delete as appropriate)• Doxycycline 200mg on first day then 100mg daily for 7 days (delete as appropriate)• Erythromycin 250mg/500mg four times daily for 7 days (delete as appropriate) • ……….…(name) Take ………(number/strength) tablets ….… times a day for ………. days.
• Is your breathlessness the same as usual? • Continue your usual inhaler treatments.
• Is your breathlessness worse than usual? • Increase your reliever treatment (remember to use your spacing device).
• Keep an eye on your symptoms.
If no better in 2 days time, start prednisolone (steroid tablets).
If improving in 2 days time, go back to your usual inhalers (but finish the course of antibiotics if youstarted them).
Your reliever is:
• Salbutamol (blue inhaler) maximum 2-4 puffs 4 hourly via spacer.
• …………………………………………………………………….(delete as appropriate) web: riversidehealthcentre.nhs.uk | email: [email protected] | tel: (01777) 713 330 | fax: (01777) 713 331 Riverside Health Centre, Riverside Walk, Retford, Nottinghamshire, DN22 6AA • Is your breathlessness much worse than usual? • Start taking your steroid tablets.
• Increase your reliever inhaler to maximum doses.
Your steroids are:
• Prednisolone 30mg every day for 7 or 14 days (delete as appropriate) Your reliever is:
• Salbutamol (blue inhaler) maximum 2-4 puffs 4 hourly via spacer.
• …………………………………………………………………….(delete as appropriate) • If you use either the antibiotics or the steroid tablets, you need to book a telephone consultation with Delma Headland or your GP 2-3 days later so we can check you are on the mend and re-issue your prescriptions for next time you have a flare up.
• If you ever have any of the following contact the surgery immediately, or dial 999: • Very short of breath.
• Chest pains.
• High fever.
• Feeling of agitation, fear, drowsiness or confusion.
web: riversidehealthcentre.nhs.uk | email: [email protected] | tel: (01777) 713 330 | fax: (01777) 713 331 Riverside Health Centre, Riverside Walk, Retford, Nottinghamshire, DN22 6AA

Source: http://riversidehealth.co.uk/COPD.pdf