About Spacers
A spacer is usually made of plastic and shaped like a football or tube. It makes it easier to take asthma or COPD medication from the type of puffer called an MDI (metered dose inhaler).
Spacers help the medication get straight to where it’s needed in your lungs, plus less medication ends up in your mouth and throat where it can lead to irritation or mild infections.
A spacer can also make it easier to coordinate breathing in and pressing your puffer.
Choosing a Spacer
There are many different brands and sizes of spacers available.
Spacers should be used by:
- all children (kids aged under 4–5 years will also need a mask attached)
- all adults taking a corticosteroid preventer medication (e.g. Seretide, Flixotide) using an MDI/puffer
- adults who have trouble coordinating the‘press and breathe’ technique when using an MDI/puffer
- anyone taking a reliever medication (e.g. Ventolin) during an asthma attack
Tips for using your Spacer
Remember to shake your puffer before firing each puff.
- Fire only one puff into your spacer at a time
- Breathe in from your spacer as soon as you've fired a puff into it – the medication settles on the bottom very quickly
- For each puff, you can either breathe in and out of the spacer several times or take one very big breath from the spacer
Cleaning your Spacer
Clean your spacer before you use it for the first time and then about once a month. Your spacer may become a bit cloudy over time, but it shouldn’t be moldy or brown.
To clean your spacer:
- dismantle your spacer
- wash all parts in clean warm water with kitchen detergent
- allow the parts to air dry without rinsing – drying with a cloth or paper towel can result in static building up on the inside of the spacer, which makes the medication stick to the sides
- Wipe the mouthpiece clean of detergent, if needed
- When completely dry, reassemble and it will be ready for use
If you can’t wash your new spacer before using it for the first time, you may need to ‘prime’ the spacer by firing 2–4 puffs into it to begin with. This makes sure there is no static build-up inside.
You can then take your medication dose as usual. Every 6-12 months, our pharmacist, nurse or asthma educator should check your spacer to ensure the valve is working properly and that it has no damage (e.g cracks).
Why not use a Nebuliser
All the latest research shows that a puffer with spacer works just as well as a nebuliser for treating asthma symptoms, including during an asthma attack.
A puffer with spacer is also simpler, cheaper, much more portable, and has fewer side effects.
