“Does a respiratory therapist use medicines to treat a patient or is it only through respiratory exercises?”

Respiratory therapist are not allowed to prescribe medications nor treatments, we can suggest therapies. There is a new program for respiratory to become advanced practitioner and it will be depending on each state if the RT can prescribe at that point. We do administer medications to patients

To treat a patient medically, a respiratory therapist (RT) will treat their patient according to the patient's respiratory diagnosis and symptoms. Within many healthcare facilities protocols are written allowing the RT autonomy to treat the patient with certain respiratory medications and treat modalities. Outside of the protocols, the RT must follow the physician's orders. Again, there are a limited number of respiratory medications that the RT can prescribe. That will be defined in the written protocols within each medical facility.
Physical exercise can be used to help build endurance for some patients who have been diagnosed with a respiratory disease; however, it varies in each patient and the treat regimen will be overseen by the medical doctor.