COPD Rescue Pack

If you buy COPD rescue packs and forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember and then carry on taking your next dose at its regular time. If you realise you’ve missed a dose but it is almost time for the next dose, do not take a double dose, skip the dose you have missed, take the next dose at its regular time and then carry on as normal with any remaining doses.

We advise that you consult with either your doctor or prescriber before you buy a COPD rescue pack.

If there is no improvement in your symptoms within 2-3 days of starting your rescue medications, your symptoms are getting worse or you have any of the symptoms below contact your GP surgery immediately, or phone 111.

• Severe breathlessness
• Chest Pain
• Drowsiness
• Confusion
• New (or worsening of existing) swelling of legs
• Inability to complete sentences
• High fever or temperature

In case of extreme emergency dial 999 for an ambulance. Once you have recovered from your COPD flare-up, make sure you tell the surgery and arrange a review appointment with your respiratory nurse or GP and request/order a replacement Rescue Pack.

Although both people with COPD and asthma may find an overlap of symptoms and treatment (such as the use of inhalers) these are two distinctly different conditions. Your doctor will be able to inform you which condition you suffer from and the best treatment for it.

If you buy COPD rescue packs they will not be useful to you if you have asthma.

We advise that you consult with either your doctor or prescriber before you buy a COPD rescue pack.

Prednisolone

Let your doctor know if you are taking any of the following medicines:

• rifampicin, isoniazid (to treat tuberculosis)
• blood thinners
• carbamazepine, phenobarbital, phenytoin
• anticholinergics (e.g. medicines for Parkinsons disease or asthma)
• cholinesterase inhibitors
• insulin or diabetes drugs in the form of tablets
• Cortisone preparations can impair the blood sugar lowering effect of diabetes drugs
• cobicistat (for HIV infection)
• oestrogens (e.g. birth control pills)
• acetylsalicylic acid or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents (NSAIDs)

Doxycycline

Let your doctor know if you are taking any of the following medicines:

• Retinoids
• Any medications containing iron, bismuth, or zinc salts (such as antacids)
• Methotrexate
• Methoxyflurane
• Ciclosporin
• Carbamazepine, primidone, phenytoin or any other drug that is used to treat epilepsy
• Typhoid vaccination
• Methysergide or Ergotamine
• Barbiturates or any other strong sleeping tablets.
• Some oral contraceptives
• Sucralfate
• Kaolin
• Quinapril
• Anticoagulants
• Rifampicin
• Penicillin based antibiotics

Amoxicillin

Let your doctor know if you are taking any of the following medicines:

• allopurinol (used for gout)
• probenecid (used for gout)
• medicines to help stop blood clots (such as warfarin)
• other antibiotics (such as tetracycline)
• methotrexate (used for the treatment of cancer and severe psoriasis)

We advise that you consult with either your doctor or prescriber before you buy a COPD rescue pack.

Prednisolone contains lactose, you have been told by your doctor that you have an intolerance to some sugars, contact them before taking this medicine.

There are no interactions between Doxycycline or Amoxicillin and food though it is recommended you avoid alcohol.

It also goes without saying that smoking should be completely avoided if you have COPD.

We advise that you consult with either your doctor or prescriber before you buy a COPD rescue pack.

When you buy COPD rescue packs online, or from your local GP, always check with your doctor before starting it and also inform them if you have had any change in symptoms. You should not use a COPD rescue pack if you are allergic to any of the medication or ingredients and it should only be used at the start of a flare-up to slow and reduce its progress, not as a preventative. Inform your doctor or prescriber of any other medication you may be on.

Contact your doctor if your condition has not improved within three days.

We advise that you consult with either your doctor or prescriber before you buy a COPD rescue pack.

Yes, you can buy COPD rescue packs online from e-Surgery for future use. When you buy COPD rescue packs online or any other medication, always look for the green GPhC and MHRA logo on the bottom of each page you visit.

You can use the GPhC website to check if a pharmacy is registered. This will ensure that when you buy COPD rescue packs online they are genuine.

We advise that you consult with either your doctor or prescriber before you buy a COPD rescue pack.

If you choose to buy COPD rescue packs online from e-Surgery prices start at 21.95. This includes the price of private prescription.

We advise that you consult with either your doctor or prescriber before you buy a COPD rescue pack.

You can find more information about COPD rescue packs from the NHS. You can also find more information about the individual medications before you buy COPD rescue packs online in patient information leaflets of the appropriate medication:

• prednisolone patient information leaflet
• doxycycline patient information leaflet
• amoxicillin patient information leaflet

We advise that you consult with either your doctor or prescriber before you buy a COPD rescue pack.

Store your COPD Rescue Pack in a safe place at home that is easily within reach to you, but out of the reach of children.

Do not use any of the medication in the COPD rescue pack after the expiry date on the box. Whenever you buy COPD rescue packs online check the expiry date of the individual medication when it arrives to you in the post.

We advise that you consult with either your doctor or prescriber before you buy a COPD rescue pack.

Whenever you buy COPD rescue packs online the medication will come in blister packs that are not currently recyclable, so once they have been used can be disposed of in a general waste bin. If the COPD rescue pack is unfinished dispose of medication safely and drop them off at a local pharmacy. Cardboard packaging and paper patient information leaflets are recyclable.

For any more information on disposal of COPD rescue packs you can use our free Ask-A-Pharmacist service.

We advise that you consult with either your doctor or prescriber before you buy a COPD rescue pack.

There is no evidence to suggest that taking amoxicillin while pregnant is harmful to an unborn baby. It is not recommended that individuals take doxycycline during pregnancy and prednisolone can cause problems during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. 

We advise that you consult with either your doctor or prescriber before you purchase and take any of the products that make up the COPD Rescue Pack.

There is no evidence to suggest that your COPD Rescue Pack will affect your use of any contraception. However, you should always seek advice from your doctor or prescriber before you buy a COPD Rescue Pack online.

The primary function of a COPD Rescue Pack is not for hay fever, but a doctor may advise otherwise. If you are contemplating purchasing a COPD Rescue Pack for your hay fever, then you should first consult with your doctor or prescriber to make sure you receive the correct treatment for your condition.

There could be multiple reasons a prescriber has recommended a different antibiotic than the one you originally chose. The most common reason tends to be that the prescriber is trying to avoid you building up a resistance to particular antibiotics. 

If you are concerned with the choice made by your prescriber in relation to your COPD Rescue Pack, then please do not hesitate to consult with your doctor or prescriber.