COPD can also be managed with the use of inhalers, medicines, oxygen treatment, and pulmonary rehabilitation. Surgery may be a possibility in extreme situations. All things considered, there is no single best way to manage COPD; each case must be evaluated by your doctor to determine the right course of action. The most common treatments for respiratory diseases include the following: Medications. Physicians often prescribe medications for respiratory conditions such as asthma and bronchitis. These drugs can have many different effects on the body, from reducing fever after a cold to preventing muscle spasms. The two main classes of medications used to treat respiratory diseases are beta-adrenergic receptors and muscarinic receptors antagonists. Beta-adrenergic receptors work by stimulating cells to produce more mucus. This action helps clear mucus out of the lungs. Anticholinergics work by blocking the effect of acetylcholine, which causes airway narrowing. Examples of these medications include ipratropium (Atrovent), tiotropium (Spiriva), and umeclidinium (Glycopyrrolate For Lungs). Oxygen therapy.