What makes up an inhaler

The use of inhaler devices in adults. Accessed May 19, Inhaled asthma medications. American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. Ding B, et al. Maintenance inhaler preference, attribute importance, and satisfaction in prescribing physicians and patients with asthma, COPD, or asthma: COPD overlap syndrome consulting for routine care. Kaplan A, et al. Matching inhaler devices with patients: The role of the primary care physician.

Canadian Respiratory Journal. See also Albuterol side effects Allergies and asthma Allergy shots Aspirin allergy Asthma Asthma and acid reflux Asthma attack Asthma diet Adult asthma action plan Asthma: Colds and flu Asthma medications Asthma: Testing and diagnosis Asthma treatment: 3 steps Asthma treatment: Do complementary and alternative approaches work?

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Keep an eye on the counter and replace the inhaler before you run out of medicine. Bring your inhaler to your clinic appointments. Your provider can make sure you are using it the right way. Store your inhaler at room temperature.

It may not work well if it is too cold. The medicine in the canister is under pressure. So make sure you do not get it too hot or puncture it. Aerosols and aerosol drug delivery systems. Middleton's Allergy Principles and Practice. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; chap Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Medical Pharmacology and Therapeutics. Updated by: Laura J. Editorial team. How to use an inhaler - no spacer. If you have not used the inhaler in a while, you may need to prime it.

It might be helpful to keep a list of the names of your medicines and inhalers in your wallet or purse. This information will prevent mistakes and confusion. In the treatment of asthma, the medicine inside inhalers can be grouped into relievers short-acting bronchodilators , preventers steroid inhalers and long-acting bronchodilators.

Book a consultation with a local pharmacist via Patient Access at a time that's convenient for you. You can take a reliever inhaler as required to ease symptoms when you are breathless, wheezy or tight-chested.

The medicine in a reliever inhaler relaxes the muscle in the airways. This opens the airways wider, and symptoms usually quickly ease. These medicines are called bronchodilators as they widen dilate the airways bronchi. The two main reliever medicines are salbutamol and terbutaline. These come in various brands made by different companies. There are different inhaler devices that deliver the same reliever medicine.

These inhalers are often but not always blue in colour. Other inhalers containing different medicines can be blue too. Always read the label. If you only have symptoms every now and then, the occasional use of a reliever inhaler may be all that you need.

If you need a reliever three times a week or more to ease symptoms, a preventer inhaler is usually advised. These are taken every day to prevent symptoms from developing. The type of medicine commonly used in preventer inhalers is a steroid.

Steroids work by reducing the inflammation in the airways. When the inflammation has gone, the airways are much less likely to become narrow and cause symptoms such as wheezing. Steroid inhalers are usually taken twice per day. If you have an exacerbation flare-up of your asthma symptoms, you may be advised to take the preventer inhaler more often. It takes days for the steroid in a preventer inhaler to build up its effect. This means it will not give any immediate relief of symptoms like a reliever does.

After a week or so of treatment with a preventer, the symptoms have often gone, or are much reduced. It can, however, take up to six weeks for maximum benefit. If your asthma symptoms are well controlled with a regular preventer you may then not need to use a reliever inhaler very often, if at all. However, they do not usually work as well as steroids. Bone strength density may be reduced following long-term use of high doses of inhaled corticosteroids. Therefore people who use steroid inhalers for asthma need to make sure they have a good supply of calcium in their diet.

Milk is a good source of calcium but dairy products may need to be avoided for some people with asthma. Other good dietary sources of calcium include:. See the separate leaflet called Preventing Steroid-induced Osteoporosis. The medicines in these inhalers function in a similar way to relievers, but work for up to 12 hours after each dose has been taken. A long-acting bronchodilator may be advised in addition to a steroid inhaler if symptoms are not fully controlled by the steroid inhaler alone.

Some brands of inhaler contain a steroid plus a long-acting bronchodilator for people who need both to control their symptoms. Examples of combination inhalers are:. Different inhaler devices suit different people. Inhaler devices can be divided into four main groups:.

A standard MDI is shown above. When using a new inhaler, prime it by releasing three to four test sprays. Prime again if not used for several weeks. Insert the inhaler into the spacer. Spray one puff of medicine and inhale slowly. Hold your breath for a count of 10 and exhale slowly. Spraying several puffs of inhaler into spacer FIX IT: Spray only one puff of the inhaler into the spacer for each breath.