Understanding What Drugs Are Used to Increase Lung Capacity and Improve Breathing

October 11, 2025 •

3 min read

While no medication can physically increase the size of healthy lungs, pharmacological treatments can significantly improve functional lung capacity for those with chronic respiratory diseases. Understanding what drugs are used to increase lung capacity involves recognizing how different medication classes, such as bronchodilators and anti-inflammatories, work to open airways and reduce inflammation caused by conditions like COPD and asthma.

Quick Summary

These medications relax muscles and reduce inflammation to widen airways, making breathing easier. They help manage chronic respiratory illnesses like asthma and COPD by improving lung function and reducing symptoms. Treatment options range from quick-relief rescue inhalers to long-acting maintenance drugs and biologics.

Key Points

Functional Improvement: Drugs for lung conditions improve functional lung capacity by addressing muscle constriction and inflammation, not by physically enlarging the lungs.
Bronchodilator Basics: This class of drugs relaxes airway muscles. Short-acting versions (SABAs) are for quick relief, while long-acting versions (LABAs and LAMAs) are for daily, long-term control.
Anti-inflammatory Action: Inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) are used for maintenance therapy to reduce airway swelling and mucus, which is vital for managing chronic conditions like asthma.
Combination Convenience: Many patients use combination inhalers that deliver multiple medications, such as a bronchodilator and an ICS, in a single device for greater effectiveness and ease of use.
Beyond Inhalers: For severe disease, oral medications like PDE4 inhibitors (e.g., roflumilast) and targeted biologic injections (e.g., dupilumab) can provide additional therapeutic benefits.
Integrated Approach: Medication is most effective when part of a comprehensive management plan that may include pulmonary rehabilitation, proper inhaler technique, and lifestyle adjustments.

For individuals suffering from chronic respiratory conditions, the sensation of breathlessness can be debilitating. While it is physiologically impossible for drugs to increase the physical size of healthy lungs, targeted medications are highly effective at improving functional lung capacity. They achieve this by addressing the underlying issues that constrict airways, such as inflammation and muscle tightening. For diseases like Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and asthma, this medical management is crucial for improving quality of life and preventing life-threatening exacerbations.

Bronchodilators: Relaxing Airway Muscles

Bronchodilators are a cornerstone of treatment for obstructive lung diseases, relaxing the smooth muscles around airways to widen them for easier breathing. They are typically inhaled and classified by their duration of action.

Short-Acting Bronchodilators (SABAs)

Known as 'rescue inhalers,' SABAs offer quick relief for sudden breathlessness or before exercise, with effects lasting 4-6 hours. Examples include albuterol (ProAir, Ventolin), levalbuterol (Xopenex), and ipratropium (Atrovent).

Long-Acting Bronchodilators (LABAs and LAMAs)

Used for daily symptom prevention and reduction of exacerbations in patients with persistent symptoms. Common LABAs include salmeterol (Serevent) and formoterol (Foradil). LAMAs include tiotropium (Spiriva) and umeclidinium (Incruse Ellipta).

Corticosteroids: Reducing Airway Inflammation

Corticosteroids are potent anti-inflammatory drugs that reduce airway swelling and mucus production, addressing a major cause of airflow restriction in asthma and severe COPD.

Inhaled Corticosteroids (ICS)

ICS are long-term control medications that reduce airway inflammation over time, making airways less sensitive. They are not for immediate symptom relief. Examples include fluticasone (Flovent) and budesonide (Pulmicort).

Oral Corticosteroids

Short courses of oral steroids may be used for severe exacerbations to quickly reduce inflammation. Long-term use is generally avoided due to significant side effect risks.

Combination Inhalers: Multi-Faceted Treatment

Combination inhalers provide multiple medications in one device for patients needing more comprehensive treatment. These can combine a long-acting bronchodilator with an ICS (ICS/LABA), two types of long-acting bronchodilators (LABA/LAMA), or all three (ICS/LABA/LAMA). Examples include ICS/LABA inhalers like fluticasone/salmeterol (Advair) and LABA/LAMA inhalers like umeclidinium/vilanterol (Anoro Ellipta). Triple therapy examples include fluticasone/umeclidinium/vilanterol (Trelegy Ellipta) and budesonide/glycopyrrolate/formoterol (Breztri Aerosphere).

Other Medications for Severe Disease

For severe or difficult-to-control symptoms, additional options are available.

Phosphodiesterase-4 (PDE4) Inhibitors: Roflumilast (Daliresp) is an oral medication that reduces inflammation to prevent exacerbations in severe COPD and chronic bronchitis. Ensifentrine (Ohtuvayre), an inhaled dual PDE3/PDE4 inhibitor, was recently approved for COPD.
Biologics: These injectable or infused drugs target specific inflammatory pathways and are used for severe asthma or certain types of COPD. Dupilumab (Dupixent) is an example used for eosinophilic COPD.
Theophylline: An older oral medication with bronchodilator and anti-inflammatory effects, less commonly used now due to side effects and narrow therapeutic window.

Comparison of Key Respiratory Medications


Feature	Short-Acting Bronchodilators (SABAs)	Long-Acting Bronchodilators (LABAs)	Inhaled Corticosteroids (ICS)
Primary Use	Quick-relief for sudden symptoms	Daily maintenance to prevent symptoms	Daily maintenance to reduce inflammation
Mechanism	Rapidly relaxes airway smooth muscles	Provides prolonged relaxation of airway muscles	Reduces swelling and mucus in the airways
Onset of Action	Within minutes	Slower, but long-lasting (12-24 hours)	Gradual (may take weeks for maximum effect)
Route	Inhaled (inhaler, nebulizer)	Inhaled (inhaler, nebulizer)	Inhaled (inhaler)
Example Drugs	Albuterol (Ventolin)	Salmeterol (Serevent), Tiotropium (Spiriva)	Fluticasone (Flovent), Budesonide (Pulmicort)
Best For	Exercise-induced symptoms, rescue therapy	Persistent symptoms, preventing exacerbations	Managing underlying inflammation in asthma/COPD

The Role of Medication in Overall Lung Health

Medications are most effective when integrated into a comprehensive management plan that includes therapies like pulmonary rehabilitation and education on proper inhaler technique. Regular consultations with a healthcare provider are essential for monitoring, adjusting medication, and managing potential side effects. Staying informed about new treatments is also beneficial.

Conclusion

Medications designed to improve breathing and functional lung capacity for those with chronic respiratory diseases work by opening airways and reducing inflammation. Bronchodilators relax muscles for easier airflow, while corticosteroids target the inflammatory response. Combination therapies offer convenience and enhanced control. For more severe cases, newer options like biologics and PDE4 inhibitors provide targeted treatment. By combining these pharmacological approaches with supportive care, individuals can better manage their conditions and improve their quality of life.

Frequently Asked Questions

A rescue inhaler contains a short-acting bronchodilator (SABA) like albuterol and is used for fast relief during a sudden flare-up. A maintenance inhaler contains a long-acting bronchodilator (LABA/LAMA) and/or a corticosteroid and is used daily to prevent symptoms and exacerbations.

No medication can permanently increase the physical size of your lungs. These drugs work by managing the underlying diseases that restrict breathing, such as relaxing constricted airways and reducing inflammation, to improve functional lung capacity.

Common side effects may include jitteriness, a rapid heartbeat, tremors, or insomnia. These are often more pronounced with systemic (oral) administration but can also occur with inhaled forms.

Triple therapy inhalers, which combine an ICS, LABA, and LAMA, are recommended for patients with severe COPD who continue to experience shortness of breath and frequent exacerbations despite using dual combination therapy.

Biologic medications are made from living cells and target specific inflammatory pathways. They are typically used for severe asthma or specific types of COPD that are not well-controlled by standard inhaler therapies.

PDE4 inhibitors, such as roflumilast, are oral medications that reduce inflammation by blocking a specific enzyme. They are used to prevent flare-ups in patients with severe COPD and chronic bronchitis.

Yes, ensifentrine (Ohtuvayre) is a recent addition, approved in 2024. It is an inhaled dual PDE3/PDE4 inhibitor that works to relax airways and reduce inflammation, offering a novel mechanism of action for COPD maintenance treatment.