The MDI has been used for over 40 years and is used to deliver various types and brands of medicines. It contains a pressurised inactive gas that propels a dose of medicine in each 'puff'. Each dose is released by pressing the top of the inhaler.
This type of inhaler is quick to use, small and convenient to carry. It needs good co-ordination to press the canister and breathe in fully at the same time. Sometimes these are known as evohalers. The standard MDI is the most widely used inhaler. However, many people do not use it to its best effect. Errors include:. However, CFCs damage the Earth's ozone layer, and so are being phased out.
The newer CFC-free inhalers work just as well but use a propellant gas that does not damage the ozone layer. These are alternatives to the standard MDI. Some are still pressurised MDIs but don't require you to press a canister on top. The autohaler shown on the right is an example. Other breath-activated inhalers are also called dry powder inhalers.
These inhalers do not contain the pressurised inactive gas to propel the medicine. You don't have to push the canister to release a dose. Instead, you trigger a dose by breathing in at the mouthpiece. Accuhalers, clickhalers, easyhalers, novolizers, turbohalers, diskhalers and twisthalers are all breath-activated dry powder inhalers.
You need to breathe in fairly hard to get the powder into your lungs. Some types are shown below. The individual devices all have some differences in how they are operated. However, generally they require less co-ordination than the standard MDI. They tend to be slightly bigger than the standard MDI.
Spacer devices are used with pressurised MDIs. There are various types - an example is shown opposite. The spacer between the inhaler and the mouth holds the medicine like a reservoir when the inhaler is pressed.
A valve at the mouth end ensures that the medicine is kept within the spacer until you breathe in. When you breathe out, the valve closes. You don't need to have good co-ordination to use a spacer. There are several different types of spacer. Some of the spacer devices fit all MDIs, others only work are compatible with specific brands of inhalers. Tips on using a spacer device The following are tips if you are prescribed a holding spacer. These have a valve at the mouth end - the spacer in the picture above is an example.
Nebulisers are machines that turn the liquid form of your short-acting bronchodilator medicines into a fine mist, like an aerosol. You breathe this in with a face mask or a mouthpiece. Nebulisers are no more effective than normal inhalers. However, they are extremely useful in people who are very tired fatigued with their breathing, or people who are very breathless.
Nebulisers are used mainly in hospital for severe attacks of COPD when large doses of inhaled medicines are needed.
They are used less commonly than in the past, as modern spacer devices are usually just as good as nebulisers for giving large doses of inhaled medicines.
You do not need any co-ordination to use a nebuliser - you just breathe in and out, and you will breathe the medicine in.
It goes without saying that the best way to keep your lungs healthy is not to smoke - and it's n Find out if you are eligible today. At standard inhaled doses, the amount of medicine is small compared with tablets or liquid medicines. Therefore, side-effects tend to be much less of a problem than with tablets or liquid medicines. This is one of their main advantages.
However, some side-effects do occur in some people. Read the leaflet that comes with the inhaler for details of possible side-effects. The following just highlights the more common and important ones to be aware of.
The purpose of each is fairly self-explanatory: relievers are used for the relief of asthma symptoms when they become apparent, whilst the preventers are used to help stop these symptoms appearing in the first place.
Different chemical compounds are required depending on which of the two results we want to accomplish. The primary compound used in reliever inhalers, commonly coloured blue, is salbutamol known as albuterol in the US. Reliever drugs are by necessity fast-acting, reaching their peak effect between minutes after dosing, and lasting for up to two hours.
As such, they provide more or less immediate relief from asthma symptoms. The preventers are usually steroids, and are often taken nebulised in a similar manner to the relievers.
These steroid medications work by reducing inflammation in the lungs, and helping to keep the airways open, and reducing the sensitivity of the lung tissue to triggers. You breathe this in with a face mask or a mouthpiece. Nebulisers are no more effective than normal inhalers. However, they are extremely useful in people who are very tired fatigued with their breathing, or in people who are very breathless. Nebulisers are used mainly in hospital for severe attacks of asthma when large doses of inhaled medicines are needed.
They are used less commonly than in the past, as modern spacer devices are usually just as good as nebulisers for giving large doses of inhaled medicines. You do not need any co-ordination to use a nebuliser - you just breathe in and out, and you will breathe in the medicine.
At standard inhaled doses, the amount of medicine is small compared with tablets or liquid medicines. Therefore, side-effects tend to be much less of a problem than with tablets or liquid medicines.
This is one of their main advantages. However, some side-effects do occur in some people. Read the leaflet that comes with the inhaler for details of possible side-effects. The following just highlights the more common and important ones to be aware of. One problem that might occur when using a steroid inhaler especially if you are taking a high dose is that the back of your throat may get sore. Thrush infection in the mouth may develop.
This can usually be treated easily with a course of pastilles to suck or liquid that you hold in your mouth. You might also notice that your voice becomes more hoarse. If you rinse your mouth with water and brush your teeth after using a steroid inhaler you are less likely to develop a sore throat or thrush.
Also, some inhaler devices such as spacers are less likely to cause throat problems. A change to a different device may help if mouth problems or thrush occur. Note: a persistent hoarse voice that does not settle, needs further investigation as it can be due to other causes. If you have this symptom you should tell your GP. If you use a high dose of inhaled steroid over a long time it may be a risk factor for developing osteoporosis.
You can help to prevent osteoporosis by taking regular exercise, not smoking, and eating a diet with enough calcium. Children who use an inhaled steroid over a long time should have their growth monitored.
There is a small risk that enough steroid may get from the lungs and into the body via the bloodstream , to delay growth. This risk has to be balanced against the risk of a child with asthma not having a steroid preventer. Long-term ill-health such as with conditions like severe asthma could also affect a child's growth. Steroid medicines may aggravate depression and other mental health problems, and may occasionally cause mental health problems. This is more a concern with steroid tablets but, rarely, can be caused by steroid inhalers.
Even a severe form of mental health problem called psychosis may, rarely, be triggered by a steroid inhaler. Seek medical advice if worrying mood or behavioural changes occur. Often the choice of inhaler is just personal preference. Most GPs and practice nurses have a range of devices to demonstrate, and let you get a feel for them. If you are unhappy with the one you are using then ask your GP or practice nurse if you can try a different type.
If you think you have had a side-effect to one of your medicines you can report this on the Yellow Card Scheme. You can do this online at www. The Yellow Card Scheme is used to make pharmacists, doctors and nurses aware of any new side-effects that medicines or any other healthcare products may have caused.
If you wish to report a side-effect, you will need to provide basic information about:. Inhaled corticosteroids for the treatment of chronic asthma in adults and in children aged 12 years and over ; NICE Technology Appraisal Guidance, March I need your help on a problem that I haven't checked with the doctor yet hoping that it's not serious. For last a few years I have a jelly like transparent, sticky mucus in my chest. I never felt any Disclaimer: This article is for information only and should not be used for the diagnosis or treatment of medical conditions.
Egton Medical Information Systems Limited has used all reasonable care in compiling the information but make no warranty as to its accuracy. Consult a doctor or other health care professional for diagnosis and treatment of medical conditions. For details see our conditions. In this series.
In this article Types of asthma inhalers Inhaler devices Common questions and further information. Asthma Inhalers In this article Types of asthma inhalers Inhaler devices Common questions and further information. Types of asthma inhalers The medicine inside an inhaler goes straight into the airways when you breathe in. If you are on holiday. Outside the normal opening hours of your GP surgery. Need an emergency inhaler? Book a consultation with a local pharmacist via Patient Access at a time that's convenient for you Book now.
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