VytlOne Specialty Pharmacy
Bronchiectasis
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Patient Information
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Bronchiectasis is a long-term condition where the tubes that carry air in and out of your lungs become damaged. When this happens, the airways can become wider and develop scarring. This makes it harder for your lungs to clear out mucus and germs. Over time, this can lead to ongoing breathing problems and further lung damage if not managed.
Bronchiectasis can develop after certain repeated pulmonary infections or other chronic conditions that injure the walls of your airways. The condition often follows a cycle of lung damage, inflammation and infections. At times, your symptoms may get worse – this is called a flare or an exacerbation. During a flare, you may notice increased coughing, shortness of breath and feeling more tired than usual. Although bronchiectasis cannot be cured, it can be managed. Early diagnosis and treatment are important to help control symptoms, reduce flare-ups and slow the progression of lung damage. Treatment varies from person to person because the condition looks different in each person.
Living with bronchiectasis often means managing a complex routine of medications, therapies, and follow-ups. At VytlOne Specialty Pharmacy, our team is here to make that process simpler and more supported.
Treatment
Bronchiectasis cannot be cured, but it can be managed. Treatment is highly variable between patients because the disease looks different in each person
Management may include various components, such as:
- Clearing the airways of mucus. Pulmonary rehabilitation is one of the most common ways this is accomplished, but other methods may be used. Nebulized hypertonic saline, mannitol, or mucolytic agents are also commonly used to help break up the mucus and make it easier to clear out.
- Oral antibiotics, such as azithromycin.
- Inhaled steroids and rescue inhalers.
- Inhaled antibiotics, such as Cayston® (nebulized aztreonam), Arikayce® (nebulized amikacin), or Tobi® (nebulized tobramycin). These drugs are available in specialty pharmacies.
- Brinsupri™ (brensocatib) for treatment of non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis.
Treatment Goals
The goals of treating bronchiectasis include:
Improving mucus clearance with lung exercises
Suppress and prevent bacterial colonization
Reduce and/or prevent flares (or exacerbations) and airway inflammation
Improve physical function and quality of life
Maintaining optimal therapy adherence
Preventing, minimizing, and managing side effects of therapy
Reduce/prevent hospitalization
Preserve lung function
Strategies to AchieveTreatment Goals
Monitoring and follow-up
with physician
Reducing the risk of additional lung damage through smoking cessation
Adherence
to therapy
Immunization against flu and pneumonia
Appropriate management of other underlying diseases such as COPD, high blood pressure, anxiety, etc.
Additional Resources
Patient Resources
Additional Information
Sources
- Imam J, Duarte A. Non-CF bronchiectasis: Orphan disease no longer. Respiratory Medicine. 2020(166):3-12. doi: 10.1016/j.rmed.2020.105940.
- Chalmers JD, Aliberti S, Blasi F. Management of bronchiectasis in adults. Eur Respir J. 2015(45):1446-1462. doi: 10.1183/09031936.00119114.
