Cystic Fibrosis - Treatment - Treatment
While there is not yet a cure for cystic fibrosis, advances in treatment are helping people live longer, healthier lives. To better manage your condition, you or your child will work with cystic fibrosis specialists. In newborns with a positive screening result, treatment may begin while the diagnosis is being confirmed. Treatment for cystic fibrosis is focused on airway clearance, medicines to improve the function of the faulty CFTR protein and prevent complications, and surgery, if needed.
Your healthcare team
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Cystic Fibrosis - Treatment
Your healthcare team will likely include a cystic fibrosis specialist. This is a doctor who is familiar with the complex nature of cystic fibrosis. Your doctor may work with a medical team that specializes in cystic fibrosis, often at major medical centers. The United States has more than 100 CF Care Centers, with medical teams that include:
- Doctors specializing in the lungs, diabetes, and the digestive system
- Genetic counselors
- Nurses
- Nutritionists and dietitians
- Pharmacists
- Physical therapists
- Psychologists
- Respiratory therapists
- Social workers
Airway clearance techniques
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Cystic Fibrosis - Treatment
Airway clearance techniques help loosen lung mucus so it can be cleared, reducing infections and improving breathing. The techniques include special ways of breathing and coughing, devices used by mouth and therapy vests that use vibrations to loosen mucus, and chest physical therapy. These techniques are often used along with medicines such as bronchodilators and mucus thinners.
Medicines
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Cystic Fibrosis - Treatment
Medicines to treat cystic fibrosis include those used to maintain and improve lung function, fight infections, clear mucus and help breathing, and work on the faulty CFTR protein. Your doctor may prescribe some of the following medicines to treat cystic fibrosis:
- Antibiotics to prevent or treat lung infections and improve lung function. Your doctor may prescribe oral, inhaled, or intravenous (IV) antibiotics.
- Anti-inflammatory medicines, such as ibuprofen or corticosteroids, to reduce inflammation. Inflammation causes many of the changes in cystic fibrosis, such as lung disease. Ibuprofen is especially beneficial for children, but side effects can include kidney and stomach problems. Corticosteroids can cause bone thinning and increased blood sugar and blood pressure.
- Bronchodilators to relax and open airways. These treatments are taken by inhaling them.
- CFTR modulators that improve the function of the faulty CFTR protein. They improve lung function and help prevent lung problems and other complications. Examples include ivacaftor and lumacaftor and a triple combination medicine (elexacaftor–tezacaftor–ivacaftor). The combination medicine is the first approved treatment that may help up to 90% of people who have cystic fibrosis. It is currently approved to use in adults and children older than 12 years.
- Mucus thinners to make it easier to clear the mucus from your airways. These treatments are taken by inhaling them.
Surgery
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Cystic Fibrosis - Treatment
Surgery may be an option for people with advanced conditions. See Living With for more information.
Look for
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Cystic Fibrosis - Treatment
- Research for Your Health will discuss how we are using current research and advancing research to treat patients who have cystic fibrosis.
- Participate in NHLBI Clinical Trials will discuss our open and enrolling clinical studies that are investigating treatments for cystic fibrosis.
- Living With will discuss what your doctor may recommend including medicines to manage complications like infections, and other treatments, lifelong lifestyle changes, and medical care to manage your cystic fibrosis and to prevent it from getting worse or causing complications.