Most asthma drugs are inhaled using special devices or nebulizers. Asthma inhalers are the most effective way of delivering life saving medications in asthma. With asthma inhaler the medication directly enters into the lungs to relieve asthma symptoms faster and with fewer side effects.

 

Types of asthma inhalers

• Metered dose inhalers (MDI)
• Metered dose inhalers with spacers
• Dry powder inhalers
• Nebulizers 

Metered dose inhalers (MDI)

Metered-dose inhaler (MDI) is a device that delivers a specific amount of medication to the lungs, in the form of a short burst of aerosolized medicines. These inhalers consists of pressurized canister containing medications.

Metered dose inhalers with spacers

Spacer holds the medication after the medications is released, making it easier to inhale the full dose. Release of medication into the spacer gives time to inhale the medications more slowly.

Dry powder inhaler

Dry powder inhalers does not use chemical propellant to push the medication out of the inhaler. Here the medication is released by breathing in a deep, fast breath.

Asthma inhaler features

 

Metered dose inhalers	Metered dose inhalers with a spacers	Dry powder inhaler
Small and portable	More bulky and less portable	Small and portable
Doesn’t require fast and deep breathing	Doesn’t require fast and deep breathing	Require fast and deep breathing
Accidently breathing out is a little is not a problem	Accidently breathing out is a little is not a problem	Accidently breathing out is a little is a problem
Medications can struck in throat and tongue	Less medications settles in throat and tongue	Medications can struck in throat and tongue
Requires shaking and priming	Requires shaking and priming with proper use of spacer	Single dose models requires loading capsules for each use
Humidity does not affect medications	Humidity does not affects medications	Humidity affects medications

 

 

Other devices

• Metered dose inhalers with face mask
• Nebulizers

Drugs used in asthma inhalers

Anti inflammatory asthma inhalers  

• Corticosteroids- Budesonide, Fluticasone, Flunisolide, Beclomethasone, Betamethsone, Mometasone
• Mast cells stabilizers- Nedocromil sodium, ketotifen, Sodium chormoglycate

 

Bronchodilator asthma inhalers

• Short acting- Salbutamol, Albuterol
• Long acting- Salmeterol, Formeterol  

Best inhalers device to use

Children under the age of 6yrs generally cannot use dry powder inhalers.

Children under 12 yrs of age generally cannot use MDI inhalers without a spacer.

Adults, based on physician advice the inhalers to be used.

How to use inhalers (MDI) properly

• Remove the cap from the asthma inhaler, shake and prime it well.
• Place the index finger on top of the metal canister and thumb on the bottom of the plastic mouthpiece.
• Tilt your head back slightly and breathe in and out
• Open your mouth wide, and place the asthma inhaler in front of the mouth, breathe in and out one time.
• Begin to inhale on your next breath, press the metal canister down.
• Breathe in slowly and as deeply as you can. You should breathe in for about three to five seconds.
• Hold your breath for at least 10 seconds to allow the medication to deposit in your lungs.
• Replace the cap on your asthma inhaler when you are finished.
• If asthma inhaler contains steroids, gargle and rinse the mouth with water or mouthwash after each use.