I go to the doctor when I start noticing problems. My doctor does not want me to wait until things get bad. My oxygen levels drop and I have coughing/phlegm issues. He prescribes both the antibiotic (Doxycycline) for possible infection and Prednisone (3 week course that decreases dose every 5 days). Prednisone is to reduce the inflammation. I was told to take in the morning due to possible sleep side effects. Previously, I only took a 1 week course of Prednisone. Since this recent flare was so close to my last one (or not recovered), the doctor thought a longer but tapering dose would work better. I take Ambien if I have too many days of sleep issues or sometimes just some Benadryl to make me sleepy. Sleep is very important for our recovery, so contact your doctor to manage the issues and questions you are having to avoid any trip the hospital. I am feeling amazingly better with this recent regimen. If I can’t stay stable then the doctor will put me on a low dose of Prednisone for maintenance. I did have some confusing issues in trying to know whether I was having a reaction to new inhalers (Bevespi and Breo) tried consecutively over several weeks. I had major coughing and didn’t know if it was my newly diagnosed COPD or side effect). I am off the inhalers and my cough is minimal now. I only added this information to show how things can get complicated when trying to sort things out. All the best with your recovery.