Medications

Antibiotics

  • These drugs are used to fight bacterial infections that may be blocking the lungs, as in bacterial pneumonia.

Diuretics

  • Diuretics work on the kidneys by increasing the amount of water that passes as urine. This allows the body to get rid of extra fluid, including fluid around the lungs (pulmonary edema).

Anti-inflammatories

  • If the lungs and airways become inflamed, they can swell and make it harder to breathe. Anti-inflammatories reduce this swelling.

Bronchodilators

  • Bronchodilators are used to open up the airways. This lets other medications such as anti-inflammatories get to where they are needed most deep in the lungs.​​​​​​​