Antimuscarinic Medications for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Abstract

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a disease of airway obstruction.1 A major component of therapy for the management of COPD includes bronchodilators, such as muscarinic receptor antagonists, also known as anticholinergic agents.1 These medications work at the parasympathetic sites in bronchial smooth muscle via the inhibition of acetylcholine causing bronchodilation.1 Antimuscarinic drugs for COPD management include short-acting and long-acting muscarinic receptor antagonists (SAMAs and LAMAs, respectively).