There are two types of inhalers:
- Metered dose inhalers (puffers and breath activated)
- Dry powder inhalers
Metered dose inhalers
These inhalers use an aerosol canister to produce a fine mist of medication.
There are two types:
- Puffers - press and breathe
- Autohalers - as you breathe in your breath will activate the device
Puffers
Using your puffer- Remove cover from puffer mouthpiece.
- Hold puffer upright and shake well.
- Breathe out.
- Tilt the chin up.
- Put puffer mouthpiece in mouth and create a seal with lips.
- Start to breathe in through mouth, then fire one puff of medication and continue to breathe in steadily and deeply.
- Remove puffer from mouth, close mouth and hold breath for 10 seconds.
- Breathe out through nose.
- Replace cover.
- To take more medication repeat steps 2 - 8.
Puffers require good coordination so it is important to press down on the canister and breathe in at the same time.
Using a spacer with a puffer will minimize side effects and deliver medication more effectively to your lungs.
Cleaning your puffer
You should clean your puffer every week to prevent blockage from a buildup of medication.
- Remove metal canister. Do not place canister in water.
- Wash the plastic casing only. Rinse mouthpiece through top and bottom under warm running water for at least 30 seconds. Wash mouthpiece cover.
- Allow to air dry.
- Reassemble.
Note: Intal Forte and Tilade inhalers should be cleaned every day.
If you are using an Accuhaler, Turbuhaler or Autohaler for dispensing your medication it is important that they DO NOT get wet.
If they require cleaning use a dry clean cloth to wipe the device – specifically the mouthpiece
Spacer
It is recommended that all puffers are used with a spacer.
Using a spacer helps control asthma because:
- there are fewer side effects from the medication
- it is easier to use as it requires less coordination than a puffer alone
- more medication is inhaled into the lungs
Important Point:
- Before using a spacer for the first time it will need to be primed. This is done by immersing the spacer in warm soapy water; do not rinse then allow to air dry.
Using your spacer
- Assemble the spacer (if not already assembled).
- Remove cap from puffer and shake puffer well.
- Attach puffer to end of spacer.
- Place mouthpiece of spacer in mouth and ensure lips seal around it. If using a spacer with a facemask, place the facemask over the mouth and nose to ensure a good seal.
- Press down on puffer canister once to fire medication into spacer.
- Breathe in and out normally for 4 breaths, or breathe out gently then breathe in for 5 seconds, hold for up to 10 seconds and then breathe out.
- To take more medication, shake the puffer and repeat steps 3 - 6.
Cleaning your spacer
About every month the spacer should be cleaned or more often if the valve becomes blocked.
- Wash in warm soapy water
- Do not rinse
- Allow to air dry. Do not wipe
- Wipe the mouthpiece clean of detergent before use
Autohalers
Autohalers are breath-activated so the problem of coordination is reduced.
Using your Autohaler- Shake Autohaler to mix medication and propellant
- Remove cover from Autohaler mouthpiece. Hold Autohaler in upright position without blocking vents at base.
- Lift grey lever at top of device
- Breathe out
- Tilt chin up
- Put mouthpiece in mouth, closing lips firmly around it.
- Breathe in through mouth steadily and deeply for approximately 5 seconds. The Autohaler will fire a dose of medication automatically.
- Remove Autohaler, close mouth and hold breath for up to 10 seconds
- Breathe out slowly through your nose
- Return grey lever to its original position
- To take more medication repeat steps 2-9
To clean your Autohaler wipe the mouthpiece with a clean dry tissue.
Dry powder inhalers
Dry powder inhalers require a deep inhalation to get the medication into your lungs. They include:
- Turbuhaler
- Accuhaler
- Aerolizer
Important points
- Always hold the devices upright when loading the medication. This stops the powder from falling out
- Always check the amount of medication left in your device. Doses may be indicated on the device
- Keep dry powder devices away from moisture and do not blow into them
- These devices may be difficult to use for young children and adults who are short of breath.
Turbuhaler
When using a Turbuhaler a deep inhaled breath is required to get the medication into the lungs.
The indicator on the side of the device will either highlight the doses left in the device (Symbicort) or appear red to indicate that it is nearly empty (Bricanyl, Pulmicort and Oxis).
Using your Turbuhaler- Unscrew and lift off cap.
- Hold Turbuhaler upright.
- Twist colored base to the right then left, until it clicks.
- Breathe out gently away from Turbuhaler. Do not blow on it.
- Put mouthpiece in mouth ensuring a good seal is formed with lips.
- Breathe in through mouth forcefully and deeply for approximately 5 seconds.
- Remove Turbuhaler from mouth before breathing out.
- Replace cap.
- To take more medication repeat steps 2 – 8.
To clean your Turbuhaler, wipe the mouthpiece with a clean dry tissue
Accuhaler
Accuhalers have an indicator that shows how many doses are left in the device.
Using an Accuhaler correctly- Hold Accuhaler by its base in one hand
- Place thumb of other hand on thumb grip
- Open Accuhaler by pushing thumb grip around until it clicks
- Slide lever until it clicks
- Breathe out away from Accuhaler
- Put mouthpiece in mouth ensuring good seal is formed with lips
- Breathe in steadily through mouth for up to 5 seconds
- Remove Accuhaler from mouth and hold breath for up to 10 seconds
- Breathe out gently away from Accuhaler
- Close Accuhaler
- To take more medication repeat steps 2 – 9
To cleaning an Accuhaler correctly, wipe the mouthpiece with a clean dry tissue.
Aerolizer
The Aerolizer (used only for Foradile) contains powdered medication in a capsule. The medication is released when the buttons on the base are pressed, piercing the capsule.
Using an Aerolizer correctly- Lift off cap
- Hold base with one hand and with other grasp mouthpiece and turn in direction of arrow
- Remove a capsule from blister pack and place in slot inside base.
- Twist mouthpiece back into place
- Hold Aerolizer upright and firmly squeeze the two buttons on side until capsule is pierced
- Breathe out away from mouthpiece
- Place mouthpiece in mouth ensuring a good seal with lips
- Inhale deeply for up to 5 seconds
- Remove mouthpiece from mouth and hold breath for up to 10 seconds
- Breathe out slowly
- Remove used capsule and replace cap
- To take more medication repeat steps 2 – 11
Note: when inhaling medication you should be able to hear the capsule ‘rattling’ inside the Aerolizer.
For cleaning an Aerolizer correctly, wipe the mouthpiece with a clean dry tissue.
