Asthma Inhalers, Spacers, and Nebulizers

ASTHMA INHALERS

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Taking Your Medicine

ASTHMA INHALERS

Many asthma medicines - both quick-relief and long term control medicines - come as sprays and powders in an inhaler.

An asthma inhaler is a hand held device that delivers the medication right to the airways in your lungs where it is needed. There are several kinds of inhalers.

The metered dose inhaler (MDI) is a small canister that delivers a measured dose of medicine through your mouth to your airways.

Some MDI's use a chemical to push the medicine out of the inhaler. Inhalers that use the chemical chlorofluorocarbon CFC) are gradually being replaced.

Other types of asthma inhalers include:

* A breath activated inhaler from which you simply breathe in by mouth, and the medicine comes out in a soft spray.

* A dry powder inhaler (DPI),

* A Turbuhaler, and

* An Aerolizer

It is important for you to learn how to use your inhaler correctly. Read the instructions that come with it. Also ask your health care provider or pharmacist to show you how to use it. Then try it yourself and ask him or her to make sure you are using it in the proper manner.

SPACERS

A spacer or holding chamber can make using an MDI a lot easier.

It is an especially good idea to use a spacer with corticosteroid MDI's as it decreases the amount of medicine that lands on your tongue or in the back of your mouth.

This reduces irritation to your throat and increases the amount of medicine that gets down into your lungs where it belongs.

There are many kinds of spacers. Some have a mouth piece. Some have a face mask that comes in different sizes to fit both children and adults.

Many spacers fit on the end of an inhaler; for some, the canister of medication fits into the device. Some MDI's come with built in spacers.

Spacers are not needed for dry powder devices.

Most spacers also come with instructions on how to use them. It's important to ask your health care provider to show you how to use a spacer with your MDI. Then try it yourself and ask him or her to make sure you're doing it correctly.

NEBULIZERS

A nebulizer is another device that makes it easier to take inhaled medicines. It provides the medicine in a fine mist, rather than a spray.

Using a nebulizer is easy; you simply breathe in and out normally through a mask or mouthpiece connected to the nebulizer.

Keep in mind it takes more time to use than asthma inhalers. It is also more expensive and requires more maintenance.

Instructions for using different nebulizers vary, so follow the directions on the package insert.

Nebulized asthma medication may be especially useful for infants, young children, and adults who have trouble using asthma inhalers.

Nebulizers are available from: Allergy Be Gone

Regardless of which of these devices you use, you must use them correctly, or you won't get the medicine into your lungs.

The safest way to ensure that you're using these devices the right way is to ask your doctor, nurse, or respiratory therapist to show you how.

Then demonstrate it back to him or her to make sure you have it right.

WHAT MEDICINES DO I NEED?

Doctors usually decide which medicines and how much of each to prescribe based on your lung function and your pattern of symptoms - how many days and nights you have them.

Usually, if you experience symptoms no more than two days a week, or two nights a month, they will consider your asthma to be mild and intermittent, and prescribe only quick relief medicines to be used when you have symptoms.

If you suffer from more frequent symptoms, you probably require daily, long term control medicines to prevent symptoms. It may take several visits before the doctor finds exactly the right medicines and doses for you.

ASTHMA ACTION PLAN

Once you are familiar with asthma medicines, asthma inhalers, spacers, nebulizers, and how to use them to your advantage, ask your doctor to write on your action plan:

* The name of each of your quick-relief and long-term control medicines,

* How much of each medicine you should take, and

* When to take each of your medicines

Other measures for treating asthma include:

* Allergy shots (immunotherapy) may help if you have allergies that can't easily be controlled by avoiding your triggers and taking medicine.

* Older people with asthma should have pneumococcal (pneumonia) vaccinations.

* Antibiotics are NOT recommended for either routine or emergency treatment of asthma, except, as needed, for a bacterial infection, such as pneumonia or suspected bacterial sinusitis.

As a final word, any time your doctor prescribes a new medication - ask him or her about the right way to use it.

Ask about possible side effects and how to deal with them.

Also ask what to do if you forget to take the medicine. Your pharmacist can also give you information about your medicine.

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