Learn how to use your inhaler and a spacer correctly. Ask your doctor or health care provider to show you how.
A puffer, also call a meter dose inhaler (MDI), is use with a spacer to get more medicine into the lungs. This method works for children over 4 and adults.
How to Open
If you use a Round Inhaler (MDI) to help with your asthma, it’s important that you learn how to open and use it correctly. There are different ways to do this, depending on your type of MDI. This guide only covers the basics, so please check with your doctor or pharmacist for more detail instructions specific to your inhaler.
Most MDIs are a small metal canister with an L-shape plastic mouthpiece. They are quick to use and can be easily carried. They have a pressurise inactive gas that propels a dose of medicine every time you push the top of the device. This is call breath-activation, and it requires good co-ordination to press the inactive gas and breathe in at the same time. This type of inhaler is also sometimes known as a puffer or evohaler.
To open your MDI, hold it level with one hand and put the thumb of your other hand on the thumb grip. Slide your thumb away from you until you hear and feel a click, and the inhaler will open. The mouthpiece will then appear.
Your MDI may be a dry powder inhaler or it may have a built-in spacer. A spacer helps you to take in the medication more effectively by increasing the size of your airways, so that it can reach the smaller ones. It can also help if your cough is bad after using the inhaler.
To use a spacer, first remove the inhaler from its case and shake it 10 to 15 times to mix the medicine with the propellant. Next, remove the mouthpiece and rinse it gently with warm water. Don’t rinse any other parts of the inhaler, as this can damage it. If your inhaler has a counter on the canister, keep track of how many doses are left and call your doctor or pharmacy when it’s time for a refill.
How to Load
If your doctor prescribes a round inhaler, it is important to know how to open and use it properly. Many inhalers need to be ‘primed’ before they are used, and this depends on the type of medication. Read the instructions that came with your inhaler for details on how to prime it. Some inhalers have counters on the canister that count down how much of the medicine is left. This can help you remember to get a refill and avoid running out of your medication.
Formerly call meter dose inhalers (MDIs), a round inhaler gives you asthma medication through a small handheld aerosol canister. It works like a spray can, but you need to press and hold the canister while breathing in. Some people find this difficult or need to use a spacer, a tube-like gadget that attaches to an MDI and helps you breathe the medicine into your lungs. A spacer can be helpful for kids and adults.
Many inhalers contain quick-relief medicines to treat sudden symptoms, while other have daily control medications that help manage your symptoms. If you’re taking a combination inhaler, the instructions should explain how to take your medication twice a day, 12 hours apart. Some inhalers have a breath-actuate delivery system, which means that you don’t need to push and hold the canister while you inhale. Talk to your doctor if you think this might be easier for you.
When using a Round purple inhaler for asthma, it is best to stand up or sit up straight. Breathe normally while holding the canister with one hand and with the thumb of your other hand on the top of the canister. Slide the thumb grip away from you as far as it will go until you hear a click. Then, while still breathing in, breathe in quickly and deeply through the mouthpiece.
How to Take a Dose
Many types of inhalers are use to help treat asthma. Each type has different instructions. Some require a spacer to increase the amount of medication that gets into the lungs. It is important to follow the instructions for each inhaler, as improper use can lead to clogs and less medicine being delivered. Inhalers are small devices that consist of a metal canister with a mouthpiece.
The inhaler that most adults and children use is calle meter dose inhaler, or MDI. It is a small, portable device that can be taken with you wherever you go. It has a little counter on the side that shows you how many puffs of medicine you have left.
If it isn’t, you should clean it. Most inhalers come with a special brush or can be rins out in water. It is also a good idea to use a spacer with an MDI, as this will increase the amount of medicine that makes it into the lungs.
If you are using a fast-acting medication (beta-agonists), wait 1 to 2 minutes between inhalations. It’s important to wait this long to allow the medicine to reach deep into your lungs. It’s best to do this while you are sitting up or standing. It can help to lift your chin slightly, as well.
When you are ready to take a dose, hold the inhaler upright with one hand and open it by pushing your thumb grip as far away from you as possible until you hear a click. Close your lips around the mouthpiece and inhale quickly and deeply. Breathe out slowly, counting to 10, if possible. Rinse and spit out your mouth after each use, and don’t swallow the rinse water. This will reduce the chance of yeast infections in your mouth and throat, and it can help keep your inhaler working better for you.
How to Clean
Keeping your inhaler clean is essential to getting the most benefit out of it. Your doctor will recommend a cleaning routine for your specific device and the type of medication you take in it. Your doctor may also recommend a spacer or holding chamber to help you breathe in your medicine. Some can be cleane by hand with soap and water, while others need to be rins or put in the dishwasher.
The most common type of inhaler is the meter dose inhaler (pMDI). This includes the metal canister with asthma medication suspend inside, a plastic case that holds it and the mouthpiece that you breathe into. These are the devices most commonly use by children and adults.
This helps get the full amount of medication into your lungs without extra medicine ending up in your mouth, throat or stomach. It also ensures that your inhaler is properly working by releasing the right amount of medication into your airways each time.
There are many different types of MDIs and other inhalers, including dry powder inhalers (DPI) and soft mist inhalers (SMI). The type you use will depend on the severity of your symptoms and your doctor’s prescription.
If your child has a flare-up of asthma, have them use their rescue inhaler as directed. They should shake the blue/grey reliever inhaler and then take 4 breaths from it. This is to be repeat every four minutes until emergency assistance arrives.
Your GP or asthma nurse can show you how to use your specialitymedz brand inhaler, spacer and facemask properly so that you or your child is getting the most out of it. This will include showing you how to open and use it, prime it if necessary and cleaning and storing the inhaler correctly.
