Responsible prescribing for asthma and COPD.

Respiratory medicines are expensive and, for common respiratory conditions, such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), there are opportunities to make significant savings by optimising their use. Responsible and cost-efficient respiratory prescribing can ensure value for money without compromising the quality of care. Nurses should be aware of the differing regimens recommended for patients with asthma and COPD.