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.

Dr. Shubham Suggests...

Consult a Pulmonology Respiratory Medicine Specialist

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Answered 04/07/2025

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I'm having trouble breathing properly; it feels like my breaths aren't satisfying, and I can't take a deep breath. I find myself yawning regularly, like once a minute, trying to compensate. It feels like there's something blocking my inhale. What could be causing this, and is there something I should do about it?

Budesonide 200 inhaler sos for breathing difficulty is advised to the patient.

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I'm concerned about my father's X-ray results. It mentions a few calcified foci in the bilateral upper lung zone, and his lungs are hyperinflated with a flattening of the diaphragm. There's also apical pleural thickening on both sides. Can you help me understand what this means? How serious is it? I'm really worried and just want to make sure we're not missing anything important.

you need to start treatment for the above findings

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I'm looking over the HRCT report and noticed that my SpO2 levels are fluctuating. They usually stay above 90, but I'm concerned about why there's any fluctuation at all. Can you help explain what might be causing this?

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Disclaimer: Answers on Apollo 247 are not intended to replace your doctor advice. Always seek help of a professional doctor in case of an medical emergency or ailment.