Metered dose inhalers (MDIs)

Always use a spacer

 

  • A spacer is a plastic container that makes your MDI easy and more efficient to use. Spacers help deliver up to 50% more medicine to your airways, they reduce side effects and reduce the need for good hand coordination. Spacers are as effective as a nebuliser for acute asthma.
  • Spacers are cheap and useful for all age groups. Ask your doctor or asthma nurse for a spacer today.

Using a spacer

  • 1. Shake inhaler
  • 2. Fit inhaler into spacer opening
  • 3. Press the inhaler once only
  • 4. Breathe in slowly and deeply through the spacer mouthpiece
  • 5. Hold your breath for 5-10 seconds or if breathless take 2-3 normal breaths keeping the spacer in your mouth all of the time
  • 6. Repeat steps for further doses
  • 7. Rinse your mouth out after taking any inhaled medication.

Cleaning a spacer

  • 1. Wash your spacer once a week with warm water and dishwashing liquid.
  • 2. Don't rinse.
  • 3. Drip dry. This reduces the electrostatic charge so that the medicine does not stick to the spacer sides.

Do you use a MDI?

Metered dose inhalers (MDIs) are sometimes called aerosol inhalers. When the inhaler is pressed, a measured dose of medicine is released through the mouthpiece.

Children over ten years may be able to use an MDI. However, babies and young children can use MDIs with a spacer or a spacer and a mask.

The following medicines are available in an MDI inhaler:

As with all inhalers, there are some advantages and disadvantages, which include:

Using your inhaler

Ask your doctor, nurse or asthma educator to check your inhaler technique regularly, even if you have been using your inhaler for a long time. Everybody that uses an MDI preventer medication should use a spacer to receive maximum benefit from their medicine.

Are you following these steps when you use your inhaler?

  1. Take off the cap and hold the inhaler upright
  2. Shake the inhaler to mix the medication with the propellant
  3. Sit upright, tilt head back slightly (as if you are sniffing – ‘sniff position’) and breathe out gently
  4. Hold the device upright, insert the mouthpiece into your mouth ensuring that your lips firmly seal the mouthpiece
  5. At the beginning of a slow deep breath, breathe in through the inhaler and activate the aerosol once
  6. Breathe in fully, remove the MDI from the mouth and hold your breath for ten seconds or as long  is comfortable
  7. Breathe out gently through your nose

Rinse your mouth and spit out or clean your teeth after using a corticosteroid preventer to reduce side effects.

cleaning your inhaler

Clean your metered-dose inhalers (MDIs) weekly to ensure they do not block (twice weekly if you use Tilade or Vicrom.)

  • REMOVE the plastic mouthpiece cap
  • REMOVE the metal canister (don’t put it in water)
  • RINSE the mouthpiece and cap under warm water for at least 30 seconds
  • SHAKE off any excess water and leave the mouthpiece and cap todry overnight.
  • Put the metal canister back in, and replace the cap

If you need to use your inhaler before it is dry

  • Shake off any excess water from the plastic casing and put the metal canister back inside
  • Test spray the inhaler by firing two puffs into the air