VytlOne Specialty Pharmacy
Bronchiectasis
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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 more tiredness 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 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 among 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.
- 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
Your pharmacy team will routinely check in on you to make sure:
- Your condition is improving or staying stable and not getting worse over time.
- You are reporting fewer flares or exacerbations.
- You are staying on track with your treatment plan – taking your medications consistently as prescribed helps prevent flares, preserve lung function, and reduce the risk of hospitalization.
Your Medication Guide
Your prescription comes with a medication guide specific to your prescribed therapy. Refer to it or call your pharmacist for information on:
- How to take or use your specific medication and for how long.
- What to do if you miss a dose.
- Side effects specific to your medication and how to help prevent or manage them.
- Safe handling, storage, and disposal instructions.
- Precautions and contraindications specific to your medication.
Ask your pharmacist if you have questions about your medication guide or can’t find the information you need.
Tell Your Care Team About Any New or Changed Medications
Always tell your pharmacist and prescriber about any new prescription, over-the-counter (OTC) medication, vitamin, or supplement you start even if it seems unrelated to your bronchiectasis. Keeping your full medication list current with your care team helps avoid interactions and keeps your treatment safe and effective.
Vaccinations
Ask your pharmacist or care team about getting your annual flu vaccine and staying up to date on your pneumonia vaccine. These are specifically recommended for people with bronchiectasis because respiratory infections can trigger flares and further lung damage.
Strategies to Achieve Treatment Goals
- Adhere to your prescribed therapy, including airway clearance routines.
- Monitor and follow up with physician.
- Report an exacerbation or worsening symptoms to your healthcare provider and pharmacist right away.
- Report any new or changed medications, including OTC products and supplements to you pharmacist and health care team.
- Reduce the risk of additional lung damage through smoking cessation.
- Stay current on flu and pneumonia vaccines.
- Appropriately manage other underlying diseases such as COPD, high blood pressure, or anxiety.
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.
Disclaimers
- The information provided in this post is for general educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always seek the advice of a qualified physician, pharmacist, or other healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment.
- VytlOne uses AI responsibly and ethically in support of our editorial work. AI tools may assist with idea generation, outlining, drafting, and editing across a range of materials. All content – regardless of whether AI assists in its creation – is reviewed by marketing, clinical, and legal teams and governed by our editorial standards.
