Respiratory system

Lungs & airways: medicines & conditions

The lungs and airways bring oxygen in and clear carbon dioxide out. When the airways narrow, become inflamed or fill with mucus, breathing becomes hard — and most respiratory medicines work to open the airways and calm that inflammation.

Education and reference only. This hub explains which medicines relate to the lungs & airways and why — it deliberately contains no doses and is not a substitute for advice from your doctor or pharmacist. Always check the BNF and the product labelling for prescribing detail.

About the lungs & airways

Respiratory treatment leans heavily on inhaled medicines, because delivering the drug straight to the airways means a smaller amount can work where it is needed with fewer whole-body effects. The mainstays are bronchodilators that relax and open the airways (relievers and longer-acting versions) and inhaled corticosteroids that reduce the underlying inflammation (preventers). Getting the inhaler technique right is as important as the medicine itself. Other treatments loosen mucus, treat infections, or target specific inflammatory pathways in severe disease. The recurring themes are using preventer treatment regularly even when well, knowing the difference between a reliever and a preventer, and having a clear plan for flare-ups.

What this covers

Asthma and COPD
Inhalers — relievers and preventers
Mucus, cough and chest infections
Nose and upper-airway allergy that affects breathing

Conditions in this area

Lungs & airways conditions (33)

Each links to a dose-free guide showing which medicine classes are used and how treatment is approached.

Respiratory Acute bronchitis A usually viral, self-limiting chest infection that causes a cough — often with phlegm — for up to a few weeks after a c… Respiratory Acute respiratory distress syndrome A serious condition where the lungs cannot provide the body with enough oxygen, usually as a complication of severe illn… Respiratory Alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency An inherited condition that can lead to early lung disease (emphysema) and sometimes liver problems, due to a missing pr… Respiratory Asbestosis Scarring of the lungs caused by breathing in asbestos fibres over time, causing breathlessness — a long-term condition m… Respiratory Aspergillosis A group of conditions caused by a common mould (aspergillus), ranging from allergic reactions to lung infections — mainl… Respiratory Asthma A long-term condition where the airways become inflamed and narrow, causing wheeze, cough and breathlessness — controlle… Respiratory Bronchiectasis A long-term condition in which the airways become abnormally widened and scarred, so mucus pools and chest infections ke… Respiratory Bronchiolitis A common viral chest infection in babies and young children that causes a cough, wheeze and breathing difficulty — usual… Respiratory Chronic cough A cough lasting more than about eight weeks, which has several common and treatable causes — and always needs assessment… Respiratory COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) A long-term lung condition, usually caused by smoking, in which the airways are persistently narrowed — managed by stopp… Respiratory Coughing up blood Coughing up blood or blood-streaked phlegm, which always needs assessment — many causes are treatable infections, but it… Respiratory Croup A common viral illness in young children causing a barking "seal-like" cough and noisy breathing — usually mild, and hel… Respiratory Cystic fibrosis An inherited condition that causes thick, sticky mucus to build up in the lungs and digestive system — managed with life… Respiratory Empyema A collection of pus in the space around the lung, usually a complication of pneumonia — a serious infection needing anti… Respiratory Finger clubbing A change in the shape of the fingertips and nails, which can be harmless or run in families, but can also be a sign of a… Respiratory Hyperventilation syndrome A pattern of over-breathing, often linked to anxiety, that causes breathlessness, dizziness and tingling — improved by l… Respiratory Influenza A common viral infection that tends to come on quickly with fever, aches and exhaustion — usually managed at home with r… Respiratory Lung cancer One of the most common and serious cancers, often linked to smoking — where early diagnosis greatly improves treatment o… Respiratory Lung nodule A small spot on the lung, usually found by chance on a scan — most are harmless, and they are managed by monitoring or, … Respiratory Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) A rare but serious viral respiratory illness occurring mainly in and around the Arabian Peninsula, linked to camels — wh… Respiratory Newborn respiratory distress syndrome A breathing problem mainly affecting premature babies whose lungs are not fully developed — where specialist neonatal ca… Respiratory Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) A condition where the throat repeatedly narrows or closes during sleep, interrupting breathing and causing loud snoring … Respiratory Occupational asthma Asthma caused or triggered by something breathed in at work, such as dusts, chemicals or fumes — often improving if the … Respiratory Pleural effusion A build-up of fluid between the lung and the chest wall, causing breathlessness and chest discomfort — treated according… Respiratory Pleurisy Inflammation of the lining around the lungs, causing sharp chest pain that is worse on breathing in — treatment depends … Respiratory Pneumonia An infection that inflames the tiny air sacs of one or both lungs, causing cough, fever, breathlessness and chest pain o… Respiratory Pneumothorax (collapsed lung) Air leaking into the space around a lung, causing it to partly or fully collapse — which can cause sudden breathlessness… Respiratory Pulmonary embolism (PE) A blood clot that has travelled to the lungs, blocking blood flow — a potentially life-threatening emergency, usually tr… Respiratory Pulmonary fibrosis Scarring of the lung tissue that makes the lungs stiff and reduces oxygen transfer, causing breathlessness and cough — m… Respiratory Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) A common virus causing cold-like illness that is usually mild, but can cause serious breathing problems in babies and vu… Respiratory Sarcoidosis An inflammatory condition in which small clumps of immune cells (granulomas) form in the body — most often in the lungs … Respiratory Silicosis A serious, incurable lung disease caused by breathing in fine silica dust at work — preventable through dust control, so… Respiratory Vocal cord dysfunction A condition where the vocal cords close abnormally when breathing in, causing sudden breathing difficulty that can mimic…

Medicine classes

Medicines for the lungs & airways (8)

Each links to a full, dose-free guide — what it is, how it works, who can and cannot use it, side effects, interactions and FAQs.

Antifibrotic medicines Respiratory Tablets that slow the scarring of the lungs in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and related conditions.… Inhaled corticosteroids Respiratory The "preventer" inhalers that control airway inflammation in asthma.… Leukotriene receptor antagonists Respiratory A tablet add-on for asthma, useful where allergy or exercise is prominent.… Long-acting bronchodilators Respiratory Maintenance inhalers that keep airways open in asthma and COPD.… Mucolytics Respiratory Medicines that thin sticky phlegm so it is easier to cough up, mainly in long-term chest conditions.… Short-acting bronchodilators Respiratory The "reliever" inhalers that quickly open the airways in asthma and COPD.… Smoking-cessation aids Respiratory Medicines that roughly double the chance of quitting smoking when combined with support.… Theophylline Respiratory An older oral bronchodilator now used selectively because of its narrow safety margin.…

By active ingredient

Common lungs & airways medicines by name

Individual, dose-free guides to specific active ingredients (and their brands) in this area:

Clinical formulas & tools

Calculators used in this area

Risk scores and formulas that inform assessment and treatment decisions for the lungs & airways:

Answers

Lungs & airways: frequently asked questions

What medicines are used for the lungs & airways?

This system includes 8 medicine classes — such as antifibrotic medicines, inhaled corticosteroids, leukotriene receptor antagonists, long-acting bronchodilators. Each links to a full, dose-free guide covering what it is, how it works, who can and cannot use it, side effects and interactions.

Which conditions affect the lungs & airways?

Common conditions in this area include Acute bronchitis, Acute respiratory distress syndrome, Alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency, Asbestosis, Aspergillosis and more. Each condition page shows the medicine classes used to treat it and why.

Do these pages give doses?

No. Every page on this site is dose-free. We explain which medicines are used and why, but doses depend on the individual and the exact product — always confirm with your prescriber, the BNF and the product labelling.

Is this a substitute for medical advice?

No — it is education and reference only. It helps you understand this body system and its treatments, but decisions about your own care should always be made with a qualified clinician.

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