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Health Advice > Inhalers, medicines and treatments

Detect out the about mutual inhaler mistakes people with asthma experience, how to avert them and how to manage your inhaler routine.

On this page:

X common mistakes with inhaler technique
Common mistakes with 24-hour interval-to-twenty-four hours routine

Ten mutual mistakes with inhaler technique

1. Not using the right technique for your inhaler

It tin can accept time to practice and master the right technique for your inhaler. At that place are 2 chief types of inhaler - dry pulverization inhalers (DPIs) and metred dose inhalers (MDIs). Depending on which type you utilise, you'll need to use a different inhaler technique. If you lot're not sure what type of inhaler y'all have, ask your GP, asthma nurse or pharmacist.

MDIs – You demand to breathe in slow and steady and, at the aforementioned time, press the canister on the inhaler once. Continue to breathe in slowly over 3 to 5 seconds, until your lungs feel full.
DPIs – If y'all use a dry powder inhaler, you need to breathe in apace and deeply until your lungs feel total. This makes certain the medicine is completely inhaled.

Lookout our inhaler videos to check the correct technique for your inhaler.

2. Not using a spacer

A lot of people don't realise that using a spacer is the best way to have their MDI inhaler. Spacers help the correct amount of medicine get to your lungs and reduce side furnishings. Find out more than about how spacers piece of work.

3. Not animate out fully earlier using your inhaler

People oftentimes don't breathe out as fully every bit they need to before using their inhaler. When y'all breathe out as fully equally y'all tin can but before taking your inhaler, you create more than space in your lungs for your adjacent breath in. This means that you can breathe in deeper and for longer when you inhale your asthma medicine - giving it the best chance of reaching the modest airways deep inside your lungs.

4. Forgetting to shake your inhaler earlier using information technology

Some people forget to shake their inhaler before using information technology. Inhalers such as MDIs need shaking before using to ensure the medicine and propellant mix properly, merely other inhalers may non demand shaking. Watch our inhaler videos to find out if yours needs shaking or not.

5. Not lifting your mentum slightly earlier breathing in

Lifting your chin helps the medicine go downwardly into your lungs more efficiently. Our inhaler technique videos show you what your head position should be.

Taking your inhaler

6. Animate in as well early or belatedly

When y'all breathe in too early you won't take enough time to finish breathing in all the medicine because your lungs will already be full. Breathing in too early volition mean some of the medicine will end up sticking to your rima oris or the back of your throat, instead of existence carried to your lungs where it'due south needed.

If yous breathe in likewise late, especially if you're not using a spacer, the medicine tin can stick to your mouth or the back of your throat, instead of getting to your lungs. This is because it takes a very curt corporeality of time for the medicine to be released once the canister is pressed.

vii. Not waiting between puffs

With some inhalers, such every bit metered dose inhalers (MDI), you demand to expect at to the lowest degree 30 to 60 seconds before taking the side by side puff. This gives the medicine and propellant plenty time to mix.

8. Not having a tight lip seal

When you breathe in, make sure your lips are tightly sealed around your inhaler. If the seal is not tight, medicine volition escape, and y'all won't get the full dose.

ix. Not property your jiff after taking your inhaler

If your GP, asthma nurse, or pharmacist has told you to hold your jiff after using your inhaler, it's of import to exercise this. Holding your breath gives the medicine more time to settle into your lungs. Ten seconds is ideal, but if this isn't possible, yous'll still benefit by holding your jiff for as long as you lot feel comfy.

10. Not rinsing your rima oris afterward using a steroid inhaler

Information technology'south of import to rinse your mouth out later on using a steroid inhaler, such every bit your preventer inhaler. This is then that any medicine that is stuck in your oral cavity or throat is cleaned abroad. This will prevent side effects such as oral thrush.

Mutual mistakes with day-to-mean solar day routine

Forgetting to accept your preventer inhaler at the same time every day

Taking your inhaler equally prescribed is the best style to help manage and better your asthma symptoms.

Set a daily reminder on your phone to employ your preventer inhaler every morning and evening. Yous may also want to fix a calendar reminder for ordering your prescriptions too.
Get out your inhaler in the same place so that you see it every mean solar day. Information technology's a practiced thought to keep it next to items you use frequently, such every bit near your keys or on your bedside table.

Forgetting to bring your reliever inhaler out with you

It's a adept idea to take your reliever inhaler with yous whenever yous leave the house. Endeavour keeping a spare inhaler and a spare spacer (if you employ an MDI) in your bag then that you don't take to think to pack information technology every time you get out.

Y'all tin can talk to your GP or asthma nurse about your inhaler technique at your asthma review. You can also inquire your pharmacist to check your inhaler technique or spotter our inhaler videos.

You can call our Helpline on 0300 222 5800 (9am - 5pm; Monday - Fri) to talk to a respiratory nurse specialist most using your inhalers. Or y'all tin can WhatsApp them on 07378 606 728.

Final reviewed: Nov 2021
Next review due: Nov 2024

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Source: https://www.asthma.org.uk/advice/inhalers-medicines-treatments/inhalers-and-spacers/common-inhaler-mistakes/