Onbrez Breezhaler is a commonly prescribed treatment for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, better known by its abbreviated name COPD. Developed and marketed by Novartis pharmaceutical company within the UK, Onbrez Breezhaler is available in a specialised inhaler device that is loaded with a capsule that is then punctured during use, releasing the powder which is then inhaled by the user. This COPD medication proved to be highly efficient at alleviating the symptoms and facilitating easier breathing.

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How is COPD treated?

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD for short, is a term used to denote a number of different conditions affecting the respiratory tract and causing the same array of symptoms including difficulties breathing (especially after physical strain), excess mucus in the respiratory tract and narrowing and hardening of the airways. In a majority of cases, COPD is caused by long-term or repeated exposure to airborne irritants such as pollutants or chemical fumes, with smoking being the leading cause of COPD with nine out of ten diagnosed cases being directly linked to tobacco consumption.

So, the first recommendations the doctor will give will be to eliminate or at least limit exposure to irritants, with quitting smoking being the highest priority. Only then medications might be issued. There are two main types of COPD medications – those which act in such a way to contribute to the widening and dilation of the airways and those which are designed to help decrease the amount of mucus present in the respiratory tract. Onbrez Breezhaler belongs to the former group.

How does Onbrez Breezhaler help with COPD?

Onbrez is a medication that is designed to limit inflammation and thus alleviate the symptoms while simultaneously preventing the condition from progressing further and worsening. Based on indacaterol maleate as an active ingredient, Onbrez is classified as a beta-2 agonist which makes it a rather long-acting treatment, producing the effects for as much as 24 hours following administration.

When it comes to its mechanism of action, Onbrez Breezhaler contributes to the relaxation of otherwise contracted smooth muscle tissue lining the airways, subsequently causing the airways to dilate. In turn, the person using the medicine will experience this process subjectively as a relief from COPD symptoms, as wider airways will facilitate easier breathing and less pronounced signs of the condition. As such, Onbrez produces similar results such as, for example, ipratropium-based COPD treatments, but through different mechanism of action.

Can I buy Onbrez Breezhaler online in the UK?

Yes, one can buy Onbrez Breezhaler online in the UK. However, regardless of whether you are looking to get this COPD treatment online or via the traditional route, Onbrez is a prescription-only medicine, meaning you can obtain it only with a valid prescription issued by a certified medical professional. However, it is important to note that some of the online clinics operating within the UK will refuse to issue a prescription if it is your first time using this medication. They will approve purchase only once after you can present proof that COPD has been confirmed during a face-to-face appointment with a doctor.

This is so because COPD can often be misdiagnosed, so confirming the condition through online consultations might be challenging. On the other hand, even if the condition has already been confirmed, you will still be asked to fill in a detailed and customised medical questionnaire that the doctor employed at the online clinic will use in order to determine your suitability for using Onbrez Breezhaler.

If everything checks out, the medication will be ordered from the partner pharmacy and sent to the address you provided during the sign up process. The medicine will be delivered within the timespan defined by the online clinic of your choice.

How is Onbrez Breezhaler used?

Prior to commencing treatment, make sure you know how to use Onbrez Breezhaler safely and efficiently. Of course, your prescriber will tell you how to do so and in case you need a quick recap, you can always consult the official patient information leaflet that is issued within every pack of the medicine.

Below, we will provide you with a short overview of some of the most central points for safe use of Onbrez Breezhaler. Please note that what follows is not a complete manual to the use of this medicine and can never be used as a substitute for official information or the instructions provided by your doctor. Instead, the text bellow serves to simply illustrate how Onbrez treatment might look like.

  • Always use exactly as instructed by your prescriber
  • One inhaled dose per day is enough for adults affected by COPD
  • As a long-acting bronchodilator, Onbrez will remain effective for 24 hours
  • With this in mind, try to take your dose at the same time each day
  • To use the device, open the mouth piece and place one capsule from the blister cap inside
  • Press the buttons on both sides of the device to pierce the capsule
  • Breath out fully
  • Place the mouthpiece between your lips
  • Inhale swiftly and deeply – at this point you should hear the capsule spin inside the device
  • Hold your breath for some time (between 5 and 10 seconds)
  • Open the cap and remove the capsule
  • Discard the inhaler after four weeks of use and get a new one
  • Never exceed the prescribed dose
  • If you accidentally skip a dose, don’t try to compensate – instead simply continue with the treatment as usual

For a more detailed, step-by-step guide, please refer to the official patient information leaflet that you can find within your pack of Onbrez Breezhaler.

What are Onbrez Breezhaler side effects?

Of course, not everyone using this medication will experience the side effects. But, it is still important to get familiar with them prior to commencing treatment so you will be able to differentiate between benign, yet uncomfortable side effects and those which can be rather dangerous and will require you to halt treatment and immediately seek medical attention, either from your doctor or the local emergency service.

Side effects belonging to latter category include:

  • Pain in the chest
  • High levels of sugar in blood
  • Irregular heartbeat
  • Allergic reaction
  • Dizziness
  • Worsening of COPD symptoms

Other documented side effects include:

Frequency of occurrence Side effects
Very common (1 in 10 users or more) Flu-like symptoms, sore throat, runny or blocked nose, sneezing, coughing, headache
Common (1 in 10 users or less) Feelings of pressure or pain in the cheeks and forehead, dizziness, swelling of the hands, ankles and feet, itchy rash, chest pain, pain in the muscles, bones or joints
Uncommon (1 in 100 users) Increased heartbeat, tingling or numbness

 

Please keep in mind that this is not a complete list of all documented side effects. For a more detailed overview, please refer to the official patient information leaflet that you can find within your pack of Onbrez Breezhaler.