Effects of Advair® in Outpatients With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Acute Exacerbation

Patients in the prednisone group will receive prednisone 40 mg per day with concomitant placebo diskus 2 inhalations twice a day for 10 days. All patients will receive oral antibiotics for 10 days, which will include moxifloxacin (Avelox®) 400 mg die or amoxicillin/clavulanate (Clavulin®) 875mg bid and short-acting bronchodilators (Ventolin®, Bricanyl®, Atrovent®) as needed.

Patients in the second group will receive Advair® 50/500 ug 2 inhalations twice daily with placebo pills once a day for 10 days (twice the regular dosage). All patients will receive oral antibiotics for 10 days, which will include moxifloxacin (Avelox®) 400 mg die or amoxicillin/clavulanate (Clavulin®) 875mg bid and short-acting bronchodilators (Ventolin®, Bricanyl®, Atrovent®) as needed.