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Roflumilast: A Review in COPD

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Abstract

Roflumilast (Daliresp®, Daxas®) is a selective phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) inhibitor that decreases systemic and pulmonary inflammation and improves disease symptoms in patients with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This article reviews the pharmacological properties of roflumilast and its clinical efficacy and tolerability in patients with COPD. Roflumilast is an effective treatment in patients with moderate to severe COPD; it improves lung function and is generally associated with a lower risk of exacerbation, particularly in patients with more severe disease and/or chronic bronchitis, cough and sputum. It is generally well tolerated; the most common adverse event was diarrhoea. While associated with an increased risk of psychiatric adverse events and weight loss, roflumilast is not associated with an increased risk of respiratory disease and infection, and may decrease the risk of cardiovascular adverse events. Roflumilast is a useful addition to the treatment options for patients with COPD.

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Acknowledgments

During the peer review process, the manufacturer of roflumilast was also offered an opportunity to review this article. Changes resulting from comments received were made on the basis of scientific and editorial merit.

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    Karly P. Garnock-Jones

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  1. Karly P. Garnock-Jones
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Correspondence to Karly P. Garnock-Jones.

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The preparation of this review was not supported by any external funding.

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Karly Garnock-Jones is a salaried employee of Adis/Springer, is responsible for the article content and declares no relevant conflicts of interest.

Additional information

The manuscript was reviewed by: M. Cazzola, Department of System Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy; A. Gelb, Department of Medicine, Lakewood Regional Medical Center, Lakewood, CA, USA and Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA; C. Incorvaia, Pulmonary Rehabilitation Unit, ICP Hospital, Milan, Italy; D. Mannino, Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA; C. Page, The Sackler Institute of Pulmonary Pharmacology, Kings College London, London, England.

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Garnock-Jones, K.P. Roflumilast: A Review in COPD. Drugs 75, 1645–1656 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40265-015-0463-1

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