Inhaler device use

Question 1

Metered-dose inhaler (MDI)

Answer 1

-a small hand-held device that contains respiratory meds to treat breathing problems
-it is a pressurized canister with a mouthpiece that delivers meds through inhalation

Question 2

How to use an MDI

Answer 2

-shake inhaler for at least 5 sec
-hold it upright and remove cap
-sit/stand upright and exhale fully
-seal lips around mouthpiece
-press the top of the canister while breathing through mouth slowly and deeply
- hold breath for 10sec before exhaling
-if doing more than one dose, wait 1min between each puff to reset canister
-pre warm canister in pocket during cold temperatures

Question 3

Spacer device for MDI

Answer 3

-a spacer is a chamber between the patient and inhaler
-used for children using steroids

Question 4

Advantages of Spacer device

Answer 4

-large particles drop out in the chamber, thus reducing local eefect of steroids
-aerosol momentum is slowed so that less meds are lost by impaction at the back of the throat
-less coordination required to deliver aerosol to airways
- high doses of meds can be delivered during an acute episode

Question 5

How to use a spacer device with MDI

Answer 5

• shake canister
  -insert mouthpiece of inhaler into the rubber sealed end of spacer
• exhale fully and seal mouth around the mouthpiece end of the spacer
• press inhaler down to release the meds
• the meds will be trapped in spacer
  -breathe in slowly and deeply
  -hold breath for 5-10 secs and exhale slowly

Question 6

Other inhaler devices

Answer 6

-dry powder inhalers
-multidisk/diskus accuhaler
-turbuhaler
-rhinoclear nebuliser (for sinuses)