Asthma & Allergy Associates, P.C.

Colorado Springs Asthma and Allergy Clinic

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Patients from Colorado Springs come all the time to Asthma & Allergy Associates, PC, to meet with us and get answers about the types and uses of inhalers.  Inhalers are important parts of respiratory therapy because they deliver medication directly to the lungs and provide patients with quick symptom relief.  This guide will help you answer common questions about inhalers and feel more comfortable managing your respiratory health.

How Inhalers Work

Table of contents

Estimated reading time: 6 minutes

What is an Inhaler?

Inhalers are simple medical devices that you can take with you anywhere to get medicine into your lungs. The inhaler releases the medication as a mist or powder, which you breathe in through your mouth. This method allows the medication to reach the lungs quickly, relieving the symptoms of the airway problems it treats more rapidly than any other drug delivery route. 

Resource: my.clevelandclinic.org

Types of Inhalers

The three most common types of inhalers:

  • Metered-dose inhalers (MDIs) spray a specific amount of drug into the air as an aerosol using a chemical propellant.
  • Dry powder inhalers (DPIs) deliver a powder that is inhaled deeply and quickly into the airways.
  • Soft mist inhalers (SMIs) deliver the mist into the airway slowly, which is easier to breathe in for most people.

Resource: medicalnewstoday.com

How Do Inhalers Treat Asthma?

Inhalers deliver medication directly to the airways to help manage asthma symptoms and reduce flare-ups. Some inhalers relax the airways during an asthma attack for fast relief. Others are used regularly to reduce airway inflammation and lower the risk of worsening symptoms.

How to Use Inhalers Correctly

Correctly using an inhaler involves timing the medicine you inhale with your inhalation. This technique will help you make sure the drug you are inhaling is actually going to your lungs as opposed to staying in your mouth or airways.

How to Use an MDI

  • Shake the inhaler vigorously for several seconds
  • Sit or stand up straight, tilting your head slightly to look up
  • Breathe out completely

Put the inhaler in your mouth, breathe in slowly while pressing the canister, then hold your breath for 10 seconds before breathing out. If you are using more than one dose (or puff), wait for a minute to breathe before the next puff.

What Are Inhaler Spacers?

Some MDIs include a spacer accessory that attaches to the inhaler. This helps ensure a good dose of medication reaches your lungs rather than staying in your mouth or the upper airways.

Medication and Side Effects

Inhalers can deliver different types of medication depending on a patient’s condition and treatment plan.

  • Rescue inhalers: These are usually bronchodilators that relax the airways and help you breathe during sudden symptoms.
  • Preventive inhalers: Healthcare providers often prescribe these for daily use to reduce airway inflammation and lower the risk of flare-ups.

Combination inhalers combine bronchodilators and anti-inflammatory medication, so they can relieve symptoms and reduce the frequency of asthma-related symptoms.

Onset of Action

Medicines will work on different timeframes:

  • Bronchodilators, or rescue medications, will start working within minutes after the dose.
  • Inhaled corticosteroids take several days to several weeks of daily doses to work as well as they can.

Possible Side Effects of Inhalers

Sometimes, using an inhaler can cause some unwanted side effects in the following ways:

  • Some medicines may cause increased heart rate, tremors, or hoarseness, which usually resolve when you stop taking the medicine.
  • Rinsing your mouth with water and spitting afterward is important when using steroid inhalers, as it can help reduce the risk of oral yeast overgrowth (thrush).

Cleaning Your Inhaler

Regular cleaning is essential for your inhaler to function properly. Once a week, remove the metal canister from your MDI inhaler and wash the plastic mouthpiece with warm water. Be sure to let it dry thoroughly before using it again. DPI inhalers should simply be wiped down with a dry cloth.

When to Replace Your Inhaler

You should replace an inhaler once it is empty or after its expiration date. Expired medication may not work properly. Pay attention to the expiration dates and order refills in advance to make sure you always have them when you need them.

Using Inhalers for Other Medical Conditions

Inhalers can be prescribed by a medical professional for diseases other than asthma. These include COPD, bronchitis, and similar respiratory conditions.

If Inhalers Don’t Help the Symptoms

A health care professional needs to see you if your symptoms don’t get better after using a rescue inhaler, or if you find yourself using one on a regular basis for ongoing asthma symptoms management. Asthma & Allergy Associates, PC can help you update your asthma management plan appropriately.

Using an Inhaler as a Child

Children can use inhalers safely with the right techniques and devices. Younger children and patients who are not yet comfortable using the inhaler by themselves can use a spacer with a face mask to effectively administer the drug.

Local Inhaler Dispensation

In Colorado Springs, local pharmacies are ready to give patients their asthma inhaler when you provide them with a prescription from Asthma & Allergy Associates, PC.

Prescribing Inhalers

For asthma or COPD inhalers, you will need a prescription from a healthcare provider to get them dispensed. OTC inhalers are available but intended only for temporary, mild symptom relief and are not an appropriate treatment for asthma.

Missed Inhaler Doses

If you miss a controller inhaler dose, take it when you remember, unless it is close to your next dose. If it is almost time for another dose, do not double the amount you take. Using your inhaler regularly and consistently as prescribed is important in your asthma treatment.

When Rescue Inhalers Don’t Work

If you don’t feel better after you use your inhaler, you should go to the emergency room. If you continue to use it without relief of symptoms, you may be suffering from a worsening attack and should be immediately evaluated.

Should You Share an Inhaler?

Your inhaler was prescribed for your own unique dosage, so it should only be used by you during an asthma attack. During an asthma attack, if your rescue inhaler doesn’t work to bring you back to your normal level of functioning, you should contact your medical care provider. In an emergency, you should go to the emergency room immediately.

Common Errors

Even when prescribed the correct medication, inhalers may not work effectively if they are used incorrectly. Some of the most common mistakes include:

  • Forgetting to use the inhaler as directed
  • Inhaling too quickly
  • Not inhaling deeply enough to receive the full dose

Proper inhaler technique can improve medication delivery and help you manage symptoms more effectively.

Final Thoughts

Learning how to use an inhaler correctly, cleaning your inhaler regularly, and keeping up to date with information from a health care provider, such as Asthma & Allergy Associates, PC, will help ensure your inhaler stays effective. If you have any asthma or allergy concerns and are located in or around Colorado Springs, contact Asthma & Allergy Associates, PC for your initial asthma and allergy visit.