General medical words
What Does Exacerbation Mean? Flare-Ups on Labels
Exacerbation · say it: ig-ZAS-er-BAY-shunAlso written: flare-up, flare, acute exacerbation, worsening
Short answer
An exacerbation is a flare-up: a period when a long-term condition, such as asthma, COPD or hepatitis, suddenly gets worse.
What it means
Exacerbation means a worsening, usually a flare-up of a long-term condition. Examples are an asthma attack, a COPD flare with more breathlessness and phlegm, or a flare of an autoimmune disease. Exacerbations can be triggered by infections, missed medicines, weather or other causes. A breathing flare that is not easing with your usual reliever, or that makes it hard to speak, needs urgent medical help.
Labels use the word in two ways. Some medicines, such as inhalers for COPD, list 'reducing exacerbations' as their purpose. Others warn that a medicine, or stopping one, can cause an exacerbation: for example, hepatitis B medicines warn of a flare if stopped, and beta-blockers and some others warn that they can worsen certain conditions.
An exacerbation is a temporary worsening of an existing illness; it is not a new disease, and it does not necessarily mean the condition is getting permanently worse.
Where you may see it
- 'Warnings' about hepatitis B flare on antiviral labels
- COPD and asthma inhaler labels ('reduce exacerbations')
- Discharge summaries ('acute exacerbation of COPD')
📄 How it looks on a report
Admitted with an acute exacerbation of COPD, likely triggered by a viral infection.
🙅 What it does not mean
- It does not mean a new disease.
- It does not mean the condition is getting permanently worse.
- A label warning about exacerbation does not mean your condition will flare.
🎯 Check yourself
Which of these is the right meaning of “Exacerbation”?
🗒️ Questions to ask your doctor
🧾 Reports where you will see “Exacerbation”
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💊 Medicines whose labels mention “Exacerbation”
Plain-English explanations of each medicine, from its official FDA label.
- Alendronate
a bisphosphonate, a medicine that slows the breakdown of bone by blocking cells called osteoclasts
- Amitriptyline
An antidepressant of the tricyclic type
- Aripiprazole
an atypical antipsychotic medicine
- Atenolol
a beta-blocker (beta-adrenergic blocker). The label describes it as a beta 1-selective, or cardioselective, blocking agent.
- Azithromycin
a macrolide antibacterial (antibiotic) medicine
- Bisoprolol Fumarate
a beta-blocker, which the label describes as a synthetic, beta 1-selective (cardioselective) adrenoceptor blocking agent
- Bupropion Hydrochloride
an aminoketone antidepressant, a type of medicine used to treat depression
- Carvedilol
A beta-blocker. The FDA lists it as both an alpha-adrenergic blocker and a beta-adrenergic blocker.
- Ciprofloxacin
a fluoroquinolone antibacterial medicine
- Citalopram
a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), a type of antidepressant medicine
🔗 Read more from trusted sources
- “Exacerbation” on MedlinePlus ↗
US National Library of Medicine
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