Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsHome RemediesOTC TherapiesAntibioticsSteroidsBronchodilatorsPDE4 InhibitorsProceduresComplementary MedicineNext in Bronchitis GuideHow Bronchitis Inflammation Affects Breathing
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Home Remedies
OTC Therapies
Antibiotics
Steroids
Bronchodilators
PDE4 Inhibitors
Procedures
Complementary Medicine
Next in Bronchitis Guide
Steroids forbronchitismay be prescribed in chronic cases to help decrease inflammation of the bronchi. Treatment foracute bronchitisusually involves a different approach, including rest and symptomatic treatment. When a bacterial infection is thecause, antibiotics may be prescribed as well.
Overall, the cornerstone of therapy for both forms is based on improving comfort, promoting optimal breathing, and reducing the cough.
This article discusses the various ways chronic and acute bronchitis are treated, including prescription medications, specialist procedures, complementary therapies, and at-home remedies.
Verywell / Lara Antal
Home Remedies and Lifestyle
If you arediagnosedwith acute or chronicbronchitis, you will probably not need to be hospitalized. Acute bronchitis is the type that comes on suddenly and is often the result of a viral infection, while chronic bronchitis is long-lasting.
For both acute and chronic bronchitis, a large focus of your treatment is based on home remedies and lifestyle modifications.
Over-the-Counter Therapies
Several over-the-counter medications can help relieve some of the symptoms of both acute and chronic bronchitis. In general, these medications are more effective for short-term use if you have acute bronchitis. Most of the time, your healthcare provider will recommend prescription-strength medication that has a more lasting effect on chronic bronchitis.
An exception is when acute bronchitis occurs in someone with asthma or other ongoing respiratory problems, includingchronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)andcystic fibrosis, as well as those withheart failure. Because bronchitis can lead to secondary infections in people with these conditions, healthcare providers will often prescribe antibiotics to lower the risk of pneumonia or other complications.
If you do need to take antibiotics,take all of your medication as prescribed, and do not stop just because you are feeling better.
Steroids for Bronchitis
Oral steroids may be used to treat chronic bronchitis when symptoms rapidly get worse.Inhaled steroidsare typically used to treat stable symptoms or when symptoms are slowly getting worse.
Bronchodilatorssuch as Proventil (albuterol) relax the muscles around the bronchi, allowing them to become wider. This helps remove bronchial secretions while relievingbronchospasmand reducing airway obstruction.
Your wheezing and chest tightness may temporarily improve, and more oxygen can be distributed to your lungs to improve your energy level. Some of these medications are referred to asrescue inhalersbecause they work quickly and are used to treat sudden episodes of shortness of breath related to bronchospasm.
Bronchitis Doctor Discussion GuideGet our printable guide for your next healthcare provider’s appointment to help you ask the right questions.Download PDFEmail AddressSign UpThank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up.There was an error. Please try again.
Get our printable guide for your next healthcare provider’s appointment to help you ask the right questions.
Download PDF
Email AddressSign UpThank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up.There was an error. Please try again.
Sign Up
Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up.
There was an error. Please try again.
Specialist-Driven Procedures
How is acute bronchitis treated during pregnancy?
Bronchitis requires special attention duringpregnancydue to concerns about the health of the developing fetus and changes in the maternal immune system that may increase susceptibility to infection.
Complementary Medicine (CAM)
There are several alternative therapies used for bronchitis. A few have been subjected to research, with limited results:
Summary
Chronic bronchitis may be treated with steroids to help reduce inflammation. Bronchodilators and PDE4 inhibitors can also help. In some cases, a specialist procedure such as chest physiotherapy or postural drainage may be necessary.
11 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Library of Medicine.Chronic bronchitis.Dimitrov S, Lange T, Gouttefangeas C, et al.Gαs-coupled receptor signaling and sleep regulate integrin activation of human antigen-specific T cells.J Exp Med. 2019;216(3):517-526. doi:10.1084/jem.20181169Mehta S.When a “chest cold” is something more. American Academy of Family Physicians.Llor C, Bjerrum L.Antibiotic prescribing for acute bronchitis.Expert Rev Anti Infect Ther. 2016;14(7):633-42. doi:10.1080/14787210.2016.1193435Michigan Medicine. University of Michigan.Bronchitis: Should I take antibiotics?Chong J, Leung B, Poole P.Phosphodiesterase 4 inhibitors for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.Cochrane Database Syst Rev.2017;9:CD002309. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD002309.pub5Nicolini A, Grecchi B, Ferrari-Bravo M, Barlascini C.Safety and effectiveness of the high-frequency chest wall oscillation vs intrapulmonary percussive ventilation in patients with severe COPD.Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis.2018;13:617-625. doi:10.2147/COPD.S145440Silasi M, Cardenas I, Kwon JY, et al.Viral infections during pregnancy.Am J Reprod Immunol. 2015;73(3):199-213. doi:10.1111/aji.12355Kamin W, Behre U, Helm K, Reling B, Funk P, Malek FA.Safety ofPelargoniumextract EPs 7630 in young children with acute bronchitis.Front Pediatr. 2023;11:1107984. doi:10.3389/fped.2023.1107984Careddu D, Pettenazzo A.Pelargonium sidoidesextract EPs 7630: a review of its clinical efficacy and safety for treating acute respiratory tract infections in children.Int J Gen Med. 2018;11:91-98. doi:10.2147/IJGM.S154198Taru PP, Bhavya E.Mucilage containing herbs used in traditional system: An overview.GIS Sci J. 2022;9(4):1384-1394.Additional ReadingCareddu D, Pettenazzo A.Pelargonium sidoidesextract EPs 7630: a review of its clinical efficacy and safety for treating acute respiratory tract infections in children.Int J Gen Med.2018;11:91-98. doi:10.2147/IJGM.S154198. eCollection.Elaissi A, Rouis Z, Salem NA.Chemical composition of 8 eucalyptus species' essential oils and the evaluation of their antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral activities.BMC Complement Altern Med.2012;12:81. doi:10.1186/1472-6882-12-81.
11 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Library of Medicine.Chronic bronchitis.Dimitrov S, Lange T, Gouttefangeas C, et al.Gαs-coupled receptor signaling and sleep regulate integrin activation of human antigen-specific T cells.J Exp Med. 2019;216(3):517-526. doi:10.1084/jem.20181169Mehta S.When a “chest cold” is something more. American Academy of Family Physicians.Llor C, Bjerrum L.Antibiotic prescribing for acute bronchitis.Expert Rev Anti Infect Ther. 2016;14(7):633-42. doi:10.1080/14787210.2016.1193435Michigan Medicine. University of Michigan.Bronchitis: Should I take antibiotics?Chong J, Leung B, Poole P.Phosphodiesterase 4 inhibitors for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.Cochrane Database Syst Rev.2017;9:CD002309. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD002309.pub5Nicolini A, Grecchi B, Ferrari-Bravo M, Barlascini C.Safety and effectiveness of the high-frequency chest wall oscillation vs intrapulmonary percussive ventilation in patients with severe COPD.Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis.2018;13:617-625. doi:10.2147/COPD.S145440Silasi M, Cardenas I, Kwon JY, et al.Viral infections during pregnancy.Am J Reprod Immunol. 2015;73(3):199-213. doi:10.1111/aji.12355Kamin W, Behre U, Helm K, Reling B, Funk P, Malek FA.Safety ofPelargoniumextract EPs 7630 in young children with acute bronchitis.Front Pediatr. 2023;11:1107984. doi:10.3389/fped.2023.1107984Careddu D, Pettenazzo A.Pelargonium sidoidesextract EPs 7630: a review of its clinical efficacy and safety for treating acute respiratory tract infections in children.Int J Gen Med. 2018;11:91-98. doi:10.2147/IJGM.S154198Taru PP, Bhavya E.Mucilage containing herbs used in traditional system: An overview.GIS Sci J. 2022;9(4):1384-1394.Additional ReadingCareddu D, Pettenazzo A.Pelargonium sidoidesextract EPs 7630: a review of its clinical efficacy and safety for treating acute respiratory tract infections in children.Int J Gen Med.2018;11:91-98. doi:10.2147/IJGM.S154198. eCollection.Elaissi A, Rouis Z, Salem NA.Chemical composition of 8 eucalyptus species' essential oils and the evaluation of their antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral activities.BMC Complement Altern Med.2012;12:81. doi:10.1186/1472-6882-12-81.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
National Library of Medicine.Chronic bronchitis.Dimitrov S, Lange T, Gouttefangeas C, et al.Gαs-coupled receptor signaling and sleep regulate integrin activation of human antigen-specific T cells.J Exp Med. 2019;216(3):517-526. doi:10.1084/jem.20181169Mehta S.When a “chest cold” is something more. American Academy of Family Physicians.Llor C, Bjerrum L.Antibiotic prescribing for acute bronchitis.Expert Rev Anti Infect Ther. 2016;14(7):633-42. doi:10.1080/14787210.2016.1193435Michigan Medicine. University of Michigan.Bronchitis: Should I take antibiotics?Chong J, Leung B, Poole P.Phosphodiesterase 4 inhibitors for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.Cochrane Database Syst Rev.2017;9:CD002309. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD002309.pub5Nicolini A, Grecchi B, Ferrari-Bravo M, Barlascini C.Safety and effectiveness of the high-frequency chest wall oscillation vs intrapulmonary percussive ventilation in patients with severe COPD.Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis.2018;13:617-625. doi:10.2147/COPD.S145440Silasi M, Cardenas I, Kwon JY, et al.Viral infections during pregnancy.Am J Reprod Immunol. 2015;73(3):199-213. doi:10.1111/aji.12355Kamin W, Behre U, Helm K, Reling B, Funk P, Malek FA.Safety ofPelargoniumextract EPs 7630 in young children with acute bronchitis.Front Pediatr. 2023;11:1107984. doi:10.3389/fped.2023.1107984Careddu D, Pettenazzo A.Pelargonium sidoidesextract EPs 7630: a review of its clinical efficacy and safety for treating acute respiratory tract infections in children.Int J Gen Med. 2018;11:91-98. doi:10.2147/IJGM.S154198Taru PP, Bhavya E.Mucilage containing herbs used in traditional system: An overview.GIS Sci J. 2022;9(4):1384-1394.
National Library of Medicine.Chronic bronchitis.
Dimitrov S, Lange T, Gouttefangeas C, et al.Gαs-coupled receptor signaling and sleep regulate integrin activation of human antigen-specific T cells.J Exp Med. 2019;216(3):517-526. doi:10.1084/jem.20181169
Mehta S.When a “chest cold” is something more. American Academy of Family Physicians.
Llor C, Bjerrum L.Antibiotic prescribing for acute bronchitis.Expert Rev Anti Infect Ther. 2016;14(7):633-42. doi:10.1080/14787210.2016.1193435
Michigan Medicine. University of Michigan.Bronchitis: Should I take antibiotics?
Chong J, Leung B, Poole P.Phosphodiesterase 4 inhibitors for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.Cochrane Database Syst Rev.2017;9:CD002309. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD002309.pub5
Nicolini A, Grecchi B, Ferrari-Bravo M, Barlascini C.Safety and effectiveness of the high-frequency chest wall oscillation vs intrapulmonary percussive ventilation in patients with severe COPD.Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis.2018;13:617-625. doi:10.2147/COPD.S145440
Silasi M, Cardenas I, Kwon JY, et al.Viral infections during pregnancy.Am J Reprod Immunol. 2015;73(3):199-213. doi:10.1111/aji.12355
Kamin W, Behre U, Helm K, Reling B, Funk P, Malek FA.Safety ofPelargoniumextract EPs 7630 in young children with acute bronchitis.Front Pediatr. 2023;11:1107984. doi:10.3389/fped.2023.1107984
Careddu D, Pettenazzo A.Pelargonium sidoidesextract EPs 7630: a review of its clinical efficacy and safety for treating acute respiratory tract infections in children.Int J Gen Med. 2018;11:91-98. doi:10.2147/IJGM.S154198
Taru PP, Bhavya E.Mucilage containing herbs used in traditional system: An overview.GIS Sci J. 2022;9(4):1384-1394.
Careddu D, Pettenazzo A.Pelargonium sidoidesextract EPs 7630: a review of its clinical efficacy and safety for treating acute respiratory tract infections in children.Int J Gen Med.2018;11:91-98. doi:10.2147/IJGM.S154198. eCollection.Elaissi A, Rouis Z, Salem NA.Chemical composition of 8 eucalyptus species' essential oils and the evaluation of their antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral activities.BMC Complement Altern Med.2012;12:81. doi:10.1186/1472-6882-12-81.
Careddu D, Pettenazzo A.Pelargonium sidoidesextract EPs 7630: a review of its clinical efficacy and safety for treating acute respiratory tract infections in children.Int J Gen Med.2018;11:91-98. doi:10.2147/IJGM.S154198. eCollection.
Elaissi A, Rouis Z, Salem NA.Chemical composition of 8 eucalyptus species' essential oils and the evaluation of their antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral activities.BMC Complement Altern Med.2012;12:81. doi:10.1186/1472-6882-12-81.
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
