Contrary to other research findings, patients using the inhaled corticosteroid budesonide to treat Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) are not at increased risk of pneumonia, and the drug is safe to use in these patients, concludes an Article in this week's COPD special issue of The Lancet. Inhaled corticosteroids are prescribed with and without beta-antagonists to relieve the symptoms and improve the quality of life for patients with COPD.
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