Study: Long-Term Antibiotic Use Can Calm COPD Flare-Ups

A new study has found that long-term daily doses of azithromycin, an antibiotic, can help prevent life-threatening chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) flare-ups. COPD is a lung disease that includes both emphysema and chronic bronchitis.

According to the study, those who took the antibiotic daily were 27 percent less likely to experience a flare-up in their symptoms than participants who took a placebo pill. Flare-ups can be caused by bacterial and viral infections.

The study's investigators hypothesized that azithromycin has anti-inflammatory properties that calm COPD. However, they caution that it has also been linked to irregular heartbeats and hearing loss in  people with hearing impairments and should be prescribed with caution.

To learn more, click here.