How To...Get the most from your asthma inhaler

Today’s portable, hand-held inhalers can effectively deliver a variety of medications to relieve asthma symptoms. The following information will guarantee that a full dose of medication actually reaches your lungs:

Successful use of propellant-based Metered Dose Inhalers (MDIs) requires excellent hand/breath coordination. Before using, prime the inhaler by shaking it well, and exhale, away from the unit. With your lips closed tightly around the mouthpiece, breathe in slowly as you release medication by pressing the top of the unit. Once you take in a full breath, remove the inhaler from your mouth and hold your breath for 10 seconds. Then exhale. Repeat if additional doses are necessary. To avoid a bitter taste, rinse your mouth after using your MDI. Note that MDIs with an attached aerosol holding chamber or “spacer” work a bit differently. With these units you need to press before inhaling.

Store your MDI at room temperature. Make sure the canister is not punctured, broken, or ever placed in water. Plastic parts can be cleaned using mild soap and water and air-dried overnight.
Dry Powder Inhalers (DPIs)—available in tube, disk, or single-dose disk form—rely on forceful inhalation for medication release. After following your unit’s loading instructions, hold the inhaler horizontally, and with your lips around the mouthpiece, breathe in quickly and deeply. Remove the inhaler from your mouth, hold your breath, and exhale after 10 seconds.

Store your DPI at room temperature under dry conditions–not in the bathroom—so that medication doesn’t clump. It’s important not to drop, shake, or exhale into your DPI, because medication can accidentally be lost or blown away.

Good to Go…
Whichever inhaler you’re using, if there’s no dose counter, be sure to record doses used so that you’ll know when your medication has run out. Ask your doctor to demonstrate usage and then you should try the device as he/she watches. Practice at home in front of a mirror to ensure you’ll get maximum benefits from your inhaler.