How To Use Asthma Pump Properly

Heres How To Use An Inhaler

How To Use An Mdi Inhaler With A Spacer

• Put the inhaler into the spacer.
• Shake it for 5 seconds.
• Hold the inhaler up with your index finger on top and your thumb underneath to support it. Use the other hand to hold the spacer if you need to.
• Breathe out.
• Put the mouthpiece between your teeth, and close your lips tightly around the spacer.
• Press the top down and breathe in until your lungs fill completely — about 3-5 seconds.
• Hold the medicine in your lungs as long as you can , then breathe out.
• If you donât get enough air in the first breath, wait 15-30 seconds and try again. Shake the inhaler again before the second puff. Donât fill the chamber with two puffs of medicine at once.
• Recap the mouthpiece.
• If your medicine has a steroid in it, rinse your and gargle with water after you use the inhaler. Spit out the .

During An Asthma Attack

In a sudden asthma attack you can use your inhaler more and take up to 10 puffs. Wait 30 seconds and always shake the inhaler between doses. You can repeat this dose 10 minutes later.

Immediate action required: Call 999 or go to A&E now if you or your child:

• are struggling to breathe
• have asthma symptoms that are not getting better

Asthma attacks can get worse very quickly.

For treating severe asthma attacks, salbutamol can be given through a nebuliser. A nebuliser is a machine that delivers the medicine as a mist inhaled through a face mask. This will probably be given to you by your doctor.

What Is An Asthma Inhaler

Most asthma medicines are inhaled through the mouth using an inhaler or puffer. There are several types and the device you use will depend on your age, how your lungs work and which device you find easiest to use. A doctor, pharmacist or nurse should show you how to take your asthma medicine.

Some medicines are breathed in directly from the inhaler; others are breathed in through a ‘spacer’ you puff the medicine into a container and breathe through a mouthpiece at the other end.

This increases the amount of medicine that reaches the small airways of the lungs.

Most children over 4 can use a small spacer and puffer. Babies and children under 4 may need a face mask.

To Use Your Puffer With A Spacer:

Combination Single Maintenance And Reliever Therapy

The guidelines were published in December in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunologyand on the NHLBI website.

The combination medication has been found to be more effective for helping you avoid unexpected trips to the emergency room or your doctors office, and can also help you avoid larger corticosteroid doses which with long-term use raise the risk of side effects such as , high blood pressure, , and .

If You Have Asthma Your Healthcare Team Will:

• Explain how you can keep your asthma under control by avoiding your personal
• Prescribe medication that will help minimize your symptoms
• Show you how to take your medication properly, checking your inhaler technique
• Work with you so you have a written Asthma Action Plan
• Recommend that you visit on a regular basis so that your symptoms can be monitored and your treatments adjusted if necessary

Keep Your Inhaler Clean

Look at the hole where the medicine sprays out of your inhaler. If you see powder in or around the hole, clean your inhaler.

• Remove the metal canister from the L-shaped plastic mouthpiece.
• Rinse only the mouthpiece and cap in warm water.
• Let them air-dry overnight.
• In the morning, put the canister back inside. Put the cap on.
• DO NOT rinse any other parts.

Method 2 Of 2:using A Dry Powder Inhaler

What Not To Do With Your Inhaler

When you’re still having trouble breathing even after using your bronchodilator inhaler, you may be tempted to use it again to give yourself a second dose of the medication. Despite the temptation, it’s important to stick with the dose prescribed by your doctor. If you feel as if your medications need to be adjusted, call your physician.

Since inhalers are so commonly prescribed, and often work so well, people often don’t recognize how strong these medications actually are. Not strong, as in side effects, but strong as in dilating your airways. In recent years researchers have been trying to determine why the death rate for people with asthma has stayed relatively constant. Some physicians believe that patients don’t realize how strong these medications are in the arsenal for breathing and treat themselves too long at home before reaching out for help. If you find yourself wishing you could repeat the dose of your inhaler, don’t. But make it a point to call your doctor right away to see what she recommends.

There are several other things you shouldn’t do with your inhaler :

What To Remember When Using Your Inhaler

• Stand or sit upright when using your inhaler
• Remove the mouthpiece cover, check inside to ensure it’s clean and give it a shake
• Hold the inhaler upright with your thumb on the base and fingers on the top of the canister your hand should make a C shape
• Breathe out as far as is comfortable and place the mouthpiece in your mouth, between your teeth. Close your lips around it and don’t bite
• Breathe in through your mouth just after you start to breathe in, press down on the top of the canister to release a puff of medicine. Continue breathing in steadily and deeply
• Take the inhaler out of your mouth and hold your breath for about ten seconds .
• If you need another dose of medicine, wait for about 30 seconds before taking the second dose.

The above steps are for those using metered dose inhalers , which are the most popular type of inhaler. If you use an alternative type of inhaler, please visit our asthma page so we can help you ensure you are using this correctly.

We offer inhalers through our online servicemeaning you dont have to visit a doctor every time you need an inhaler.

Most People With Asthma Use An Inhaler Find Out How Good Inhaler Technique Helps You Manage Your Asthma Well

Using the right inhaler technique, whether its your preventer or your reliever inhaler, helps you breathe the medicine straight into your lungs, where its needed. Youre less likely to get side effects, because not much of the medicine is absorbed into the rest of your body, and youre giving yourself the best chance of managing your symptoms.

Want to check youre using your inhaler properly? Watch our short videos

How does good inhaler technique help you manage your asthma?

If youre using your preventer inhaler as prescribed, and using the right inhaler technique, it can help you:

• cut your risk of an asthma attack
• feel less breathless climbing stairs
• cope better with your usual asthma triggers
• get a good nights sleep
• have less time off work
• take part in exercise and family activities.

Good inhaler technique can really make a difference to how well you manage your asthma. It could also mean youll be able to manage your asthma symptoms without needing to be prescribed higher doses. 

How does good inhaler technique help you avoid side effects of medicines?

Using the wrong technique can also mean youre more likely to get side effects like oral thrush or a sore throat, because the medicine might be hitting the back of your throat, or just staying on your tongue or in your mouth. Good inhaler technique means the medicine goes down into your lungs where its needed. 

Are you using the correct inhaler technique?

Getting your inhaler technique checked by your nurse or GP

How To Use A Bronchodilator Inhaler The Right Way

Carefully go through these steps in using your inhaler, taking care to not to skip any steps to “save time.”

Knowing Your Asthma Action Plan Is Step One

For most people with asthma, managing the chronic condition involves a multi-pronged approach tailored to your symptoms and lifestyle.

Step one for everyone, however, is having a firm grasp of your asthma action plan.

Work with your doctor to create an asthma action plan that covers how to:

• Take your medication properly
• Quit smoking, if you do

In addition, monitor your symptoms carefully. Keep track of what they are, when they occur, and their severity.

Journal of Asthma and Allergy,

• In cold, dry air
• In environments with airborne irritants, such as cigarette smoke

Priming Your Ventolin Hfa Inhaler

Before you use VENTOLIN HFA for the first time, you must prime the inhaler so that you will get the right amount of medicine when you use it.
• To take the cap off the mouthpiece, squeeze the sides of the cap and pull out. See Figure B.
• Shake the inhaler well.
• Spray the inhaler 1 time into the air away from your face. Avoid spraying in eyes. See Figure C.
• Shake and spray the inhaler like this 3 more times to finish priming it. The counter should now read 200 or 060, depending on which size inhaler you have. See Figure D.
• You must prime your inhaler again if you have not used it in more than 14 days or if you have dropped it. Take the cap off the mouthpiece and shake and spray the inhaler 4 times into the air away from your face.

How To Use Your Inhaler

To make sure you are using your inhaler properly, follow these steps:

Because your inhaler technique can deteriorate over time, its a good idea to check your technique with your pharmacist or doctor from time to time.

If you have problems coordinating drug release and inhalation, you may be better using the puffer in conjunction with a spacer. Alternatively, you may be better off using a breath-activated device , which may also be more appropriate for people who have arthritis of the hands and find pressing the device difficult.

Dont forget to wash your inhaler regularly. Some inhalers need daily washing and air drying. Your doctor or pharmacist can advise you and show you how to do this properly.

How To Use An Inhaler With A Spacer And Mouthpiece

Learning how to properly use an inhaler with a spacer and mouthpiece for asthma ensures the medicine gets deposited into the lungs. Incorrect technique can leave some of the particles from the medicine on your tongue or throat, where it is useless. Inhalers spray the medicine out so that you can breathe it deep into the lungs. A spacer, or holding chamber, is an attachment that should always be used with your inhaler. The spacer holds the medicine in place so you can breathe it in easier. If you have any further questions about inhalers, spacers or mouthpieces contact your doctor’s office, asthma care team or pharmacy.

How To Use A Spacer

There are two techniques for using a spacer and both work well.

One breath technique most common for adults in daily use

Four breath technique used by children or anyone when breathless

No matter what technique you are using, make sure you only put one puff of medicine into your spacer at a time. If you put more than one puff in, the medicine sticks together and then drops to the bottom of the spacer before you have time to breathe it in.

How to use a Spacer with a facemask

How to use a disposable cardboard spacer

Getting The Most Out Of Your Inhaler

Ask your doctor, pharmacist or asthma & respiratory educator to:

• Explain how your inhaler should be used
• Check you are using your inhaler properly
• Tell you where to find the expiry date on your inhaler
• Show you how to check if your inhaler is empty or nearly empty
• Discuss any unwanted effects from your medication
• Explain how to clean your inhaler and spacer

Different brands of inhalers sometimes have slightly different instructions to each other for similar steps. The checklists in our How-To Video library have been simplified and standardised where possible to reduce confusion.

Your inhaler will come with instructions in the package. Always check the package insert for any specific instructions.

Method 1 Of 2:using A Metered Dose Inhaler With Or Without A Spacer

How To Use A Bronchodilator Inhaler Properly

Sanja Jelic, MD

Sanja Jelic, MD, is board-certified in sleep medicine, critical care medicine, pulmonary disease, and internal medicine.

If you have a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or another lung disease such as , learning how to use a bronchodilator inhaler is important for your health and self-care.

Follow These Steps Every Time You Use Ventolin Hfa

Step 1. Make sure the metal canister fits firmly in the plastic actuator. The counter should show through the window in the actuator.To take the cap off the mouthpiece, squeeze the sides of the cap and pull out.Look inside the mouthpiece for foreign objects and take out any you see.

Step 2. Hold the inhaler with the mouthpiece down and shake it well. See Figure E.

Step 3. Breathe out through your mouth and push as much air from your lungs as you can. See Figure F.

Step 4. Put the mouthpiece in your mouth and close your lips around it. Push the top of the metal canister firmly all the way down while you breathe in deeply and slowly through your mouth. See Figure G.

Step 5. After the spray comes out, take your finger off the metal canister. After you have breathed in all the way, take the inhaler out of your mouth and close your mouth.

Step 6. Hold your breath for about 10 seconds, or for as long as is comfortable. Breathe out slowly as long as you can.

If your healthcare provider has told you to use more sprays, wait 1 minute and shake the inhaler again. Repeat Steps 2 through Step 6.

Put the cap back on the mouthpiece after you finish using the inhaler. Make sure it snaps firmly into place.

How To Cope With Side Effects Of Salbutamol Inhalers

What to do about:

• feeling shaky â see if your asthma or COPD symptoms get better with just 1 puff of your inhaler rather than 2. If you find you need 2 puffs for symptom relief, be reassured that the shakiness will wear off after a short time.
• faster heartbeat for a short while â make sure you are not taking more than the prescribed dose. If this happens regularly, talk to your doctor or nurse as you may need your treatment reviewed so that you do not need to use your salbutamol as often.
• headaches â make sure you rest and drink plenty of fluids. Do not drink too much alcohol. Ask your pharmacist to recommend a painkiller. Headaches should usually go away after the first week of taking salbutamol. Talk to your doctor if they last longer than a week or are severe.
• muscle cramps â if you get unusual muscle ache, which is not from exercise or hard work, talk to your doctor.

Aerosol Inhalers/metered Dose Inhalers

These are likely the one you are most familiar with: Also known as a puffer, this inhaler, or pressurized metered dose inhaler , is a canister filled with asthma medication suspended in a propellant. When the canister is pushed down, a measured dose of the medication is pushed out as you breathe it in. Examples of MDIs are: Ventolin, Flovent, Advair, Alvesco, Airomir, and QVar.

This medication should be used with a spacer for increased delivery to the airways. When your inhaler is used alone, medicine often ends up in your mouth, throat, stomach and lungs. Medicine left in your mouth, throat and stomach may cause unpleasant taste and side effects. When you use a drug delivery system with your inhaler, more medicine is delivered to your lungs.

How To Use An Mdi Inhaler Without A Spacer

Take off the mouthpiece cover, then:

• Shake it for 5 seconds.
• Hold the inhaler up with your index finger on top and your thumb underneath to support it. Use the other hand to hold the spacer if you need to.
• Breathe out.
• Put the mouthpiece between your , and close your lips tightly around it.
• You can also hold the mouthpiece about the width of two fingers away from your .
• Press the top down, and breathe in until your lungs fill completely — about 4-6 seconds.
• Hold the medicine in your lungs as long as you can , then breathe out.
• If you donât get enough air in the first breath, wait 15-30 seconds and try again. Shake the canister again before the next puff.
• Recap the mouthpiece.
• If your medicine has a in it, rinse your mouth and gargle with after you use the inhaler. Spit out the water.

Quick Relief: Rescue Inhaler

Rescue or relief inhalers quickly bring back normal when you are:

• Short of breath

You should keep a rescue inhaler with you all the time. Use it:

• When you have a flare of symptoms
• Before you’re going to be around your asthma triggers
• When you run into unexpected triggers

A rescue inhaler is for short-term symptom relief, not to control your in the long term. If you’re using yours 2 or more days a week, or more than 2 nights a month, talk to your doctor about a daily control inhaler.

Using A Spacer With The Inhaler

If you or your child find it difficult to use an inhaler, your doctor may give you a spacer to use with it.

A spacer is a large metal or plastic container with a mouthpiece and a hole for the inhaler. When used with the inhaler it makes it easier to get the right amount of salbutamol into the lungs.

Spacers are especially useful for giving salbutamol to young children.

Your doctor, pharmacist or nurse can show you how to use a spacer with the inhaler.

Most Common Problems With Dry Powder Inhalers

• Thinking the inhaler needs a
• Blocking the vent with your lips or fingers
• Inhaling WAY too softly

Since dry powder inhalers do not have a propellant, you get to be the propellant. I tell people the only way to get the powder out is to “suck like a milkshake” .

Which happens to be the opposite of metered-dose inhalers. Is it any wonder people get confused and don’t take their inhaler the right way?

Many people have both kinds of inhalers. Their controller inhaler may be a dry powder inhaler, and their rescue inhaler is a metered-dose inhaler. So, they have to do the opposite technique for each inhaler.