spacer use Flashcards
What is a spacer
A spacer is a holding chamber usually made of plastic
and shaped like a football or tube. It makes it easier to
take asthma or COPD medication from the type of
puffer called an MDI (metered dose inhaler).
Spacers help the medication
get straight to where it’s
needed in your lungs, with less medication ending up in
your mouth and throat where it can lead to irritation or
mild infections. A spacer can also make it easier to
coordinate breathing in and pressing your puffer.
Spacers should be used by
• all children – kids aged under 4–5 years will need a
mask attached
• all adults taking a corticosteroid preventer
medication (e.g. Flixotide, Symbicort) using
an MDI/puffer
• adults who have trouble coordinating the ‘press
and breathe’ technique when using an MDI/puffer
• anyone taking a reliever medication (e.g. Ventolin)
during an asthma attack.
Why not use a nebuliser?
A puffer
with spacer is also simpler, cheaper and handier, is
much more portable, and has fewer side-effects.
Tips for using your spacer
• Fire only one puff into your spacer at a time
• Breathe in from your spacer as soon as you’ve fired a puff
into it – the medication settles on the bottom very quickly
Remember to shake your puffer before firing each puff
• For each puff, you can either
⇒ take one big breath in - breathe in slowly, deeply
and fully and hold breath for about 5 seconds
(recommended) OR
⇒ breathe in and out normally for 4 breaths (tidal
breathing) if you are unable to take 1 big breath in
Clean your spacer about
once a month and after you have
recovered from any cold or respiratory infection. Your
spacer may become a bit cloudy over time, but it shouldn’t
be mouldy or brown.
To clean your spacer:
• Dismantle your spacer, if necessary
• Wash all the parts in clean warm water with liquid
dishwashing detergent
• Allow the parts to air dry without rinsing – drying with
a cloth or paper towel can result in static building up
on the inside of the spacer, which makes the
medication stick to the sides
• Wipe the mouthpiece clean of detergent, if needed
• When completely dry, reassemble if necessary
new plastic spacer and cleaning
also need to be washed before you use
them for the first time. If a new spacer has to be used
immediately, you can ‘prime’ the spacer by firing multiple
(at least 10) puffs into it to begin with to help reduce the
static build-up inside. You can then take your medication
dose as usual
Spacers made from antistatic polymers
do not
need to be primed or washed before first use, nor do
disposable cardboard spacers
Your spacer should be checked
by your pharmacist,
nurse or asthma educator every 6–12 months to check
the structure is intact (e.g. no cracks) and the valve is
working properly
