People with asthma and other lung diseases that greatly impede breathing often take medications through an inhaler. Inhalation drugs start to act much faster than drugs in tablets. The inhaler also allows you to take smaller doses.
Perhaps earlier you used a dosed inhaler. But a dry inhaler is completely different. Here you will find instructions on how to use the dry inhaler. If you need information about a metered-dose inhaler, read here:
How to use a dosed inhaler.
Basic moments
- A dry inhaler allows you to inject the medication directly into the lungs more quickly.
- The dry inhaler works on inspiration. Those. when you inhale, the medicine through the inhaler comes directly into the lungs.
- Dry inhalers can be of different size and shape. Some are already filled with medication, others need to be filled with each new use. The attending physician or pharmacist will tell you how to fill the inhaler with a medicine.
What is a dry inhaler?
A dry inhaler allows you to quickly inject a medicine into the lungs in the form of a fine powder. Dry inhalers work on inspiration. This means that, inhaling through the inhaler, the medicine goes directly to the lungs.
Dry inhalers can be of different size and shape. The method of filling the inhaler with a medicine depends on the type of the inhaler itself. Some inhalers are already sold with medication. Others need to be filled before each use. How to do it, can tell the attending physician or pharmacist.
Test your knowledge
Through a dry inhaler, the medication is delivered directly to the lungs.
Dry inhaler is easy to operate. Since the dry inhaler works on inspiration, it is not necessary to press the button at the same time and inhale the medicine quickly, as it does with other inhalers.
How to use a dry inhaler?
What you need to know before you start
- Talk with your doctor, respiratory specialist or pharmacist to make sure you are using the inhaler correctly. Practice in front of the mirror. It will not be superfluous. Use the inhaler according to the instructions.
- Keep the inhaler in a cool and dry place. It is not recommended to store the inhaler in the bathroom. Because of the humidity in the air, the dry powder of the drug can stick together and adhere to the walls of the inhaler.
- Keep track of how much medicine is left in the inhaler. In some dry inhalers, counters are built in to show how much medicine is left. If there is no such counter in your inhaler, your doctor or pharmacist will show you how to keep track of how much medicine is left.
- Follow the instructions of your doctor or pharmacist to clean the inhaler. Some medications can clog the inhaler, but there is no need to clean it every day.
How to use a dry inhaler
Follow these steps and you will learn how to use a dry inhaler:
- Make sure you take exactly the medicine you need. If you use several inhalers, glue on each tag with the time of reception.
- Remove the cap from the inhaler.
- Put the dose of the medicine in the inhaler, following the instructions of the doctor or pharmacist.
- Tilt the head a little and exhale slowly all the air. During exhalation, keep the inhaler away from your mouth. Do not exhale into the inhaler, since you can blow the medicine out of the inhaler. In addition, wet breath can compress the dry powder of the medication and it will adhere to the walls of the inhaler.
- Insert the inhaler into your mouth and tightly cover the lips around it.
- Quickly and deeply inhale through the mouth (this should take 2-3 seconds). So the medicine gets directly into the lungs. After inhalation, remove the inhaler from the mouth.
- Hold your breath for 10 seconds. This will allow the drug to spread through the lungs. After that, slowly exhale through the compressed lips. Repeat steps 1-7 if a second dose is needed.
- After using the inhaler, which contains a corticosteroid, always rinse your mouth. Do not swallow the water you caress your mouth. If you swallow the water, the chances of getting the medicine in the blood will increase. And this will provoke more side effects of the drug.
Test your knowledge
When using a dry inhaler, you need to inhale quickly and deeply.
When you use a dry inhaler, you need to inhale quickly and as deeply as possible (inhalation lasts 2-3 seconds). Thus, the medicine comes from the inhaler directly into the lungs.
Where now?
Now that you have read all the information about the dry inhaler, you are ready to start working with it.
If there are questions regarding this information, ask them at the next appointment with a doctor. You can mark sections or make notes where you have questions.
How to use a dry inhaler
- Check the medicine: Step 1
Make sure you take exactly the medicine you need. If you use several inhalers, glue on each tag indicating the time when they need to use.
- Remove the cap: Step 2
Remove the cap from the inhaler.
- Put the medicine: Step 3
Put the dose of the medicine in the inhaler, following the instructions of the doctor or pharmacist. If the inhaler is already filled with the medicine, then you can skip step 4. Your inhaler may differ from the one shown in the picture.
- Exhale completely: Step 4
Tilt the head a little and exhale slowly all the air. During exhalation, keep the inhaler away from your mouth. Do not exhale into the inhaler, since you can blow the medicine out of the inhaler. In addition, wet breath can moisten the dry powder of the medication and it will adhere to the walls of the inhaler.
- Put the inhaler in your mouth: Step 5
Insert the inhaler into your mouth and tightly cover the lips around it.
- Inhale: Step 6
Quickly and deeply inhale through the mouth (this should take 2-3 seconds). So the medicine gets into the lungs. After inhalation, remove the inhaler from the mouth.
- Hold your breath: Step 7
Hold your breath for 10 seconds. This will allow the drug to spread through the lungs. After that, slowly exhale through the compressed lips.
- Rinse your mouth: Step 8
After each use of the inhaler, which contains a corticosteroid, it is good to rinse your mouth. Do not swallow the water you caress your mouth.