Respiratory Drugs

About Respiratory Drugs

Respiratory Drugs is a concise, evidence-based pharmacology reference for clinicians managing airways disease, acute respiratory presentations and respiratory infections.

Covering 45+ drugs across 10 sections:
- Bronchodilators — SABA, LABA, SAMA, LAMA and dual/combination inhalers
- Inhaled corticosteroids — ICS, ICS/LABA, single-inhaler triple therapy and MART
- Asthma (chronic) — stepwise control, add-ons (LTRA, theophylline, LAMA) and biologics (omalizumab, mepolizumab, benralizumab, dupilumab, tezepelumab)
- Acute asthma — severity grading and emergency management
- COPD — inhaled ladder, roflumilast, azithromycin, mucolytics and long-term oxygen therapy
- Acute COPD & NIV — controlled oxygen, the exacerbation bundle and non-invasive ventilation
- Respiratory infections — community-acquired pneumonia, antibiotics and tuberculosis (RIPE)
- Other agents — smoking cessation, antifibrotics, allergic rhinitis and adjuncts

Built-in interactive calculators:
- CURB-65 — community-acquired pneumonia severity, with risk interpretation
- Aminophylline — weight-based loading and maintenance dosing
- Oxygen target quick reference

Every recommendation is grounded in NICE, BTS/SIGN, GINA and GOLD guidance and the landmark trials (UPLIFT, FLAME, IMPACT, ETHOS, MENSA, QUEST, NAVIGATOR, ASCEND, INPULSIS and more), with 25+ fully cited sources linked to the original publications.

For use by qualified healthcare professionals only. Educational and training use — not for use as sole clinical guidance. Always apply clinical judgement and consult current local guidelines and the BNF before prescribing. Inhaler devices and doses vary by brand and formulation.

Developed by Dr Atif Elnil MBBS MRCP, Neurology and Stroke Senior Fellow, St George's Hospital, London, UK.