Asthma Handbook

Aerosol Inhalers

Written by Clive Chung on 3:51 AM

Aerosol Inhalers are the most commonly used for both preventer and reliever treatment. They are also known as metered dose inhalers. The medicine is a fine powder mixed with a highly evaporative liquid contained in a miniature aerosol. the aerosol fits into a plastic activator. To operate the inhaler you push the top of the aerosol and the liquid is forced out through the plastic mouthpiece. It evaporates rapidly so that what you actually inhale is the fine powder. Each push delivers a metered dose of the drug. But you do have to get the coordination right, pressing down the canister as you breathe in. This technique is explained as follows by the National Asthma Campaign:

• Stand up
• Remove the cap and then shake the inhaler
• Tip your head back as far as you can. This stops too much of the medicine sticking to the back of your throat.
• Breathe out gently
• Close your lips firmly around the inhaler mouthpiece and breathe in slowly, pressing the canister down as you continue to fill your lungs.
• Count ten seconds before breathing out again.

Autohaler is a type of aerosol inhaler which works by automatically releasing the medicine as you breathe in. No coordination is involved, which makes it a very useful device for children, the elderly and people with arthritis. It is more expensive than the other type of inhalers which is why it is not prescribed as a matter of course. However, if you find you are not able to use your inhaler properly, it is well worth asking the doctor about this one.

Spacers are an add-on to the aerosol inhaler. Made of clear plastic, they usually come in two halves which fit together. The spacer is connected to the aerosol's mouthpiece. It mixes the medicine that is squirted out with air and holds it until you are ready to inhale. Spacers make the inhaler much easier to use because they have a valve system which allows you to inhale the mdicine as you breathe in. When you breathe out the valve diverts the exhaled breath away from the chamber. You breathe in again and the valve allows the medicine mixture back into your lungs so you don't have to coordinate all the actions. If you are short of breathe, simply breathe in and out as well as you can, putting one puff at a time into the spacer and shaking the caniter between each puff.