There are now many different types of inhalers for asthma such as dry powder inhalers and breath-actuated inhalers. Make sure that the instructions you are following are for your type of inhaler.
Because your asthma control is dependent on getting medication into your lungs, your inhaler technique is very important. While your healthcare provider is one source of education for inhaler technique, there are other options. Your pharmacy might be able to give you instructions. You might also ask your healthcare provider about referring you to an asthma educator who can review your technique and provide feedback.
You can also ask your healthcare provider, respiratory therapist, or office nurse to watch you use your MDI. Do not practice with a real prescribed medicine because you could inadvertently exceed your prescribed daily dose and experience adverse side effects. Ask your healthcare provider for an MDI that does not contain active medication. This “placebo” MDI can be safely used to practice MDI technique.
In general, you’ll need to shake the MDI, then hold it away from your mouth and spray it one or more times into the open air. You may need to shake the inhaler before each spray. Familiarize yourself with the directions that came with your inhaler.
Priming will help make sure you get the full dose once you get ready to use the inhaler.
Advair Diskus Asmanex Twisthaler Foradil Aerolizer Pulmicort Flexihaler Serevent Diskus
You don’t need to shake a DPI and you should never blow into the inhaler.
For many inhalers, you should rinse the actuator (but not the canister that contains the medication) under warm, running water for at least 30 seconds, at least once a week. Let it air dry.
Note that some other inhalers should not be cleaned with water, so be sure to follow the directions that came with your inhaler.
