Caregiver Support

Helping your loved one. Helping yourself.

Know someone with COPD? Here are some ways to help support them.

Keep the lines of communication open

  • Whether your loved one has just been diagnosed or has had COPD for years, it’s important to share your feelings
    • A person living with COPD can feel like they’ve lost control and/or have become a burden
    • You will both likely find the diagnosis and progression difficult
    • Talk openly and respectfully with loved ones. Remember to listen to ensure everyone feels heard

Get empowered by getting educated

  • For both the person living with COPD and their loved ones, knowledge can help create a sense of empowerment and control
    • Identify what triggers symptoms and learn ways to help your loved one living with COPD avoid them
    • Choose healthier foods for the entire family
    • Exercise together. Physically and emotionally, it can be helpful for everyone

Expand your
care team

  • Remember that healthcare providers are a great resource for your loved one who is living with COPD. Engage them by:
    • Tracking symptoms and identifying triggers
      • Sharing this information can help doctors, nurses, and healthcare providers make sure your loved one is on the right treatment plan
    • Asking if there are alternate ways to reach out for simple questions, such as text or chat
    • Being proactive with scheduling checkups together

Know their medications

  • As many patients living with COPD have both maintenance and rescue medicines, it’s important to understand what each of them does, when they need to be taken, and whether they appear to be working
    • If your loved one is using rescue medications frequently, talk to their healthcare provider right away

Helping yourself. Caring for yourself.

Today, there are 65 million caregivers in the United States. So, if you’re feeling overwhelmed or isolated, remember that you are not alone. Here are some ways to help ensure your well-being:

  • Talk to your loved one living with COPD, family members, and friends with kindness
  • Ask for help. Caregiving is not a one-person job. Rely on family and friends to provide additional support
  • Remember that you need care, too. Take time out to go for a walk, participate in a hobby you enjoy, or pick up the phone to call a friend
  • Reach out to healthcare providers on your care team. They can steer you to local support groups, clergy, and other members of the community who can help guide you through the ups and downs. We’ve listed some resources below that may help

Stay informed about YUPELRI

Receive important updates about YUPELRI® (revefenacin) inhalation solution.
Stay informed

Important safety information

What is YUPELRI®?
  • YUPELRI is a prescription medicine used to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a long-term (chronic) lung disease that includes chronic bronchitis, emphysema, or both.
  • It is an anticholinergic medicine which helps the muscles around the airway in your lungs stay relaxed to prevent symptoms such as wheezing, cough, chest tightness, and shortness of breath.
  • It is used long-term as 1 vial of YUPELRI, 1 time each day inhaled through your nebulizer to improve symptoms of COPD for better breathing.
Who should not use YUPELRI?
  • Do not use YUPELRI if you have sudden breathing problems. Always have a rescue inhaler with you.
  • Do not use YUPELRI if you have had an allergic reaction to revefenacin, or any of the other ingredients in YUPELRI (sodium chloride, citric acid, sodium citrate).
  • Do not use in children. It is not known if YUPELRI is safe and effective in children.

Before using YUPELRI, tell your healthcare provider about all your medical conditions, including if you:

  • have eye problems such as glaucoma. YUPELRI may make your glaucoma worse.
  • have prostate or bladder problems, or problems passing urine. YUPELRI may make these problems worse.
  • have liver problems.
  • are allergic to any of the ingredients in YUPELRI, or any other medicines.
  • are pregnant or planning to become pregnant. It is not known if YUPELRI may harm your unborn baby.
  • are breastfeeding. It is not known if the medicine in YUPELRI passes into your breast milk and if it can harm your baby.

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. YUPELRI and certain other medicines may interact with each other. This may cause serious side effects.

Especially tell your healthcare provider if you take:

  • Other anticholinergics (including tiotropium, ipratropium, aclidinium, umeclidinium, glycopyrrolate)
  • Atropine

Know the medicines you take. Keep a list of them to show your healthcare provider and pharmacist each time you get a new medicine.

What are the possible side effects with YUPELRI?

YUPELRI can cause serious side effects, including:

  • Sudden breathing problems immediately after inhaling your medicine. If you have sudden breathing problems immediately after inhaling your medicine, stop using YUPELRI and call your healthcare provider right away.
  • New or worsened eye problems including acute narrow-angle glaucoma. Acute narrow-angle glaucoma can cause permanent loss of vision if not treated. Symptoms may include:
    • Red eyes
    • Blurred vision
    • Seeing halos or bright colors around lights
    • Eye pain or discomfort
    • Nausea or vomiting
  • Urinary retention. People who take YUPELRI may develop new or worse urinary retention. Symptoms of urinary retention may include:
    • difficulty urinating
    • urinating frequently
    • urination in a weak stream or drips
    • painful urination

If you have any of these symptoms, call your healthcare provider right away before taking another dose.

  • Serious allergic reactions. Call your healthcare provider or get emergency medical care if you get any of the following symptoms of a serious allergic reaction:
    • rash
    • hives
    • severe itching
    • swelling of your face, mouth, and tongue
    • difficulty breathing or swallowing

If you have any of these symptoms, stop taking YUPELRI, and call your healthcare provider right away before taking another dose.

Common side effects of YUPELRI include:

  • Cough
  • Runny nose
  • Upper respiratory tract infection
  • Headache
  • Back pain

Tell your healthcare provider if you get any side effects that bother you or that do not go away. These are not all the possible side effects with YUPELRI. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

How should I use YUPELRI?

Read the step-by-step instructions for using YUPELRI in the full Instructions For Use

  • YUPELRI is only for use with a nebulizer.
  • Do not use YUPELRI more often than prescribed.
  • Do not mix YUPELRI with other medicines in your nebulizer.
  • Do not use other medicines that contain an anticholinergic for any reason.
  • Do not stop using YUPELRI, even if you are feeling better, unless your healthcare provider tells you to because your symptoms might get worse.
  • Call your healthcare provider or get emergency medical care right away if
    • your breathing problems get worse.
    • you need to use your rescue inhaler medicine more often than usual.
    • your rescue inhaler medicine does not relieve your symptoms.

This summary does not include all the information about YUPELRI and is not meant to take the place of a discussion with your healthcare provider about your treatment.

Please see the Full Prescribing Information. For additional information, please contact us at 1-800-395-3376.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.