I'm really concerned about my dad who's 52 and has been diagnosed with COPD. He's had a bad cough for a while, and the doctor suggested he take Unicontin 400 every night. It's helped his cough a lot, but I'm wondering if it's really COPD since the doctor didn't do a spirometry test and my dad doesn't smoke. Should we go ahead and get the spirometry test done anyway? Also, I've read about side effects of Unicontin 400. Are there any other meds we could consider?

Answered by 1 Apollo Doctors

Dr Shubham Chauhan

General Practitioner

MBBS
4+ Yrs

Consult Now

Its possible that your father has COPD even without smoking, as other factors like exposure to pollutants or genetics can contribute. Spirometry is a key test for confirming COPD, so it may be worth discussing with the doctor. If youre concerned about Unicontin 400's side effects, ask about alternative medications like inhaled steroids or bronchodilators, which might be gentler on the body.

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Answered 14 days ago

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