Breath out slowly and cap the mouthpiece if you are finished.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\nAsk your doctor if your medication is a \u2018corticosteroid\u2019. If it is, ensure that you rinse and spit with water afterward to remove any medication that remains in the mouth.<\/span><\/p>\nIf you need another spray:<\/span><\/p>\n\n- Wait one minute and shake the inhaler again.<\/span><\/li>\n
- Repeat the above steps.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Cleaning an MDI<\/span><\/h2>\nIt is important to clean your metered dose inhaler regularly to prevent medication build-up and blockages. The usual recommendation is to clean the mouthpiece at least once weekly. The steps to cleaning an MDI are as follows:<\/span><\/p>\n\n- Remove the medication canister and cap from the mouthpiece. <\/span>Do not <\/b>wash the canister.<\/span><\/li>\n
- Hold the plastic holder under a faucet and run warm water through it for about 30 seconds.<\/span><\/li>\n
- Turn the holder upside down and run warm water through the mouthpiece for about 30 seconds.<\/span><\/li>\n
- Shake off the excess water from the plastic holder and ensure that any medication buildup within the holder has been washed away.<\/span><\/li>\n
- Let the plastic holder air-dry overnight.<\/span><\/li>\n
- When it is dry, put the cap on the mouthpiece and then put the canister back in place.<\/span><\/li>\n
- Shake the inhaler well, remove the cap, and spray the inhaler away from your face one time, and it is ready for use.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Metered dose inhalers with spacer<\/span><\/h2>\nBecause a breath needs to be taken at the same time that the canister is pushed down, some individuals may find it difficult to correctly time the administration of a dose using an MDI. For children and older adults who need to use an MDI, adding a spacer to the inhaler may be helpful to get a full dose of the medication. Spacers are devices that can be attached to an MDI to allow the medication to stay within a closed space for longer, so that the individual has more time to breathe it in.<\/span><\/p>\nHow to use a spacer:<\/span><\/h3>\n\n- Remove the mouthpiece cover and attach the spacer to the mouthpiece.<\/span><\/li>\n
- Breathe out as much air as you can and tilt your chin up slightly.<\/span><\/li>\n
- Put your lips and teeth over the spacer and breathe in slowly.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
- As you breathe in, squeeze the top of the canister once.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
- Continue to inhale slowly and deeply.<\/span><\/li>\n
- After you have taken a full breath, remove the spacer from your mouth.<\/span><\/li>\n
- Hold your breath for about 10 seconds, or as long as you are comfortable.<\/span><\/li>\n
- Breath out slowly and cap the mouthpiece if you are finished.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Dry powder inhalers (DPIs)<\/span><\/h2>\nDPIs administer medication in the form of a dry powder when you breathe in. Unlike with MDIs, when using a DPI, you do not need to coordinate pressing the canister with inhaling. However, dry powder inhalers require a more forceful inhalation than MDIs. For this reason, these inhalers may not be suitable for older adults or individuals with nerve or muscle weakness.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nThere are two main types of DPIs<\/span><\/h3>\n\n- Multiple dose devices, which contain up to 200 doses. An example of this is <\/span>Advair Diskus<\/span>.<\/span><\/li>\n
- Single dose devices, which require placement of a capsule in the device immediately before each dose. An example of this is <\/span>Spiriva Handihaler<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
How to use a DPI step-by-step<\/span><\/h2>\nEach DPI has its own instructions. For more specific directions on how to use your specific inhaler, make sure to check the manufacturer\u2019s label for guidance. The below instructions are general guidelines for using a DPI:<\/span><\/p>\n\n- Remove the cap. For single-use devices, load a capsule into the device as directed.<\/span><\/li>\n
- Breathe out slowly and completely away from the mouthpiece.<\/span><\/li>\n
- Place the mouthpiece between the front teeth and seal the lips around it.<\/span><\/li>\n
- Breathe in through the mouth quickly and deeply.<\/span><\/li>\n
- Remove the inhaler and hold your breath for about 10 seconds or as long as possible.<\/span><\/li>\n
- Breathe out slowly and replace the cover of the mouthpiece.<\/span><\/li>\n
- Repeat the dose if your doctor has prescribed more than one inhalation.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Ask your doctor if your medication is a \u2018corticosteroid\u2019. If it is, ensure that you rinse and spit with water after the inhalation to remove any medication that remains in the mouth.<\/span><\/p>\nHow to clean a DPI<\/span><\/h2>\n\n- DPIs should <\/span>not <\/b>be washed. Generally, only the mouthpiece can be cleaned with a dry cloth. However, please read the instructions provided by the manufacturer for specific cleaning procedures.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Soft Mist Inhalers (SMIs)<\/span><\/h2>\nSMIs release medication in a fine mist that comes out more slowly than the spray produced by MDIs. As a result, these inhalers do not depend on how quickly you are able to inhale. SMIs all come with a dose-counter built into the device, which turns red when the inhaler is almost empty. Once all the medication has been used, the inhaler will automatically lock itself. Some examples of SMIs are <\/span>Spiriva Respimat<\/span>, <\/span>Pulmicort Flexhaler<\/span>, and <\/span>Striverdi Respimat<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nHow to prime an SMI:\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n\n- Hold the inhaler upright with the cap closed.<\/span><\/li>\n
- Twist the clear base at the bottom to the right until it clicks.<\/span><\/li>\n
- Open the cap and point the mouthpiece to the floor, away from your face.<\/span><\/li>\n
- Press the button on the side until you see a mist come out.<\/span><\/li>\n
- Repeat the above steps three more times.<\/span><\/li>\n
- If it has been three days since you last used your inhaler, you will need to prime it again only one time. If it has been more than three weeks since the last time you used your inhaler, you will need to prime it all over again (releasing four total sprays following all the steps above).<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
How to use your SMI:<\/span><\/h3>\n\n- Hold the inhaler upright with the cap closed. (You do not need to shake an SMI).<\/span><\/li>\n
- Twist the clear base at the bottom to the right until it clicks.<\/span><\/li>\n
- Open the cap.<\/span><\/li>\n
- Breathe out slowly and completely.<\/span><\/li>\n
- Put the mouthpiece in your mouth, holding the inhaler horizontally.<\/span><\/li>\n
- Close your lips around the mouthpiece without covering the air vents on the sides.<\/span><\/li>\n
- Start to breathe in slowly. As you inhale, press the button on the side of the device and continue inhaling for 3-5 seconds or as long as you are comfortable.<\/span><\/li>\n
- When your lungs are full, hold your breath for 10 seconds or as long as you are able to.<\/span><\/li>\n
- Take out the inhaler and breathe out slowly.<\/span><\/li>\n
- Repeat the above steps for additional doses.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Ask your doctor if your medication is a \u2018corticosteroid\u2019. If it is, ensure that you rinse and spit with water after the inhalation to remove any medication that remains in the mouth.<\/span><\/p>\n
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