Why spacer inhaler

How to use an inhaler with a spacer. Medically reviewed by Alan Carter, Pharm. What is a spacer? How to use Tips Benefits Summary An inhaler works most effectively when the user manages to deliver their medication in a slow, controlled fashion. Share on Pinterest Using a spacer can help deliver medicine from an inhaler more effectively. How to use a spacer. Benefits of using a spacer. Latest news Adolescent depression: Could school screening help?

Exposure to air pollutants may amplify risk for depression in healthy individuals. Related Coverage. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; chap Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Medical Pharmacology and Therapeutics. Updated by: Laura J. Editorial team. How to use an inhaler - with spacer. Metered-dose inhalers MDIs usually have 3 parts: A mouthpiece A cap that goes over the mouthpiece A canister full of medicine If you use your inhaler the wrong way, less medicine gets to your lungs. The steps below tell you how to take your medicine with a spacer. If you have not used the inhaler in a while, you may need to prime it. See the instructions that came with your inhaler for how to do this.

Take the cap off the inhaler and spacer. Shake the inhaler hard 10 to 15 times before each use. Attach the spacer to the inhaler. Breathe out gently to empty your lungs. Try to push out as much air as you can. Breathe in Slowly. Put the spacer between your teeth and close your lips tightly around it. Praise your child after they have taken their inhaler. How to Use a Spacer with a Mouthpiece Assemble the spacer if it comes in two halves Shake the inhaler Insert the inhaler into the spacer Grip the mouthpiece with your teeth and place your lips around it Press the inhaler once and breath in and out slowly five times Some spacers have a valve which shows the breath going in and out.

If using the spacer for a child, you can watch this to make sure your child takes five breaths of their medication Repeat steps for each prescribed dose of medication. Adults and older children can use a spacer with a mouthpiece, but using it for the first time or. Related Content:. Resources for Parents. Related Videos:. Volumatic Spacer for a child. Aerochamber Plus: Multiple breath technique. Amirav I. Fink JB. Aerosol device selection: evidence to practice. Respir Care ; 45 : — J Aerosol Med ; 15 : — Aerosol profile extracted from spacers as a determinant of actual dose.

Pharm Res ; 21 : — Nonuniform deposition of pressurized metered-dose aerosol in spacer devices. Dubus JC, Dolovich M. Emitted doses of salbutamol pressurized metered-dose inhaler from five different plastic spacer devices. Fundam Clin Pharmacol ; 14 : — Pressure gradient and inspiratory times required for valve opening of various holding chambers. Allergy Asthma Proc ; 32 : — The effect of handling techniques on electrostatic charge on spacer devices: A correlation with in vitro particle size analysis.

Int J Pharm ; : — The effects of static charge in spacer devices on glucocorticosteroid aerosol deposition in asthmatic patients. Eur Respir J ; 11 : — Variability of aerosol delivery via spacer devices in young asthmatic children in daily life. Eur Respir J ; 13 : — A non-electrostatic spacer for aerosol delivery.

Arch Dis Child ; 73 : — Investigation of some commercially available spacer devices for the delivery of glucocorticoid steroids from a pMDI. Drug Develop Ind Pharm ; 27 : — Electrostatic charge on spacer devices and salbutamol response in young children. J Pediatr ; : — Lung deposition of 99m Tc-radiolabeled albuterol delivered through a pressurized metered dose inhaler and spacer with facemask or mouthpiece in children with asthma.

Amirav I, Newhouse MT. Aerosol therapy with valved holding chambers in young children: importance of the facemask seal. Pediatrics ; : — Facemasks and aerosol delivery by metered dose inhaler-valved holding chamber in young children: a tight seal makes the difference. J Aerosol Med ; 20 : Suppl. Design of facemasks for delivery of aerosol-based medication via pressurized metered dose inhaler with valved holding chamber: key issues that affect performance.

Jet nebulizers versus pressurized metered dose inhalers with valved holding chambers: effects of the facemask on aerosol delivery. Review of optimal characteristics of face-masks for valved-holding chambers VHCs. Pediatr Pulmonol ; 43 : — Sanders M, Bruin R. A rationale for going back to the future: use of disposable spacers for pressurised metered dose inhalers. Pulm Med ; : Finlay WH, Zuberbuhler P. In vitro comparison of beclomethasone and salbutamol metered-dose inhaler aerosols inhaled during pediatric tidal breathing from four valved holding chambers.

Chest ; : — In vitro comparison of salbutamol hydrofluoroalkane Airomir metered dose inhaler aerosols inhaled during pediatric tidal breathing from five valved holding chambers. J Aerosol Med ; 12 : — Evaluation of aerosol drug output from the OptiChamber and AeroChamber spacers in a model system. J Asthma ; 35 : — Selecting an accessory device with a metered-dose inhaler: variable influence of accessory devices on fine particle dose, throat deposition, and drug delivery with asynchronous actuation from a metered-dose inhaler.

J Aerosol Med ; 14 : — Allergy Asthma Proc ; 30 : — A pilot study to assess lung deposition of HFA-beclomethasone and CFC-beclomethasone from a pressurized metered dose inhaler with and without add-on spacers and using varying breathhold times. Optimising inhaled pharmacotherapy for elderly patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: the importance of delivery devices. Drugs Aging ; 33 : — Plastic bottles as spacers for a pressurized metered-dose inhaler: in vitro characteristics.

West Indian Med J ; 50 : — Comparison of the bronchodilating effects of albuterol delivered by valved vs. Pediatr Allergy Immunol ; 23 : — In vitro characterization of the OptiChamber Diamond valved holding chamber. In vitro evaluation of nonconventional accessory devices for pressurized metered-dose inhalers. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol ; : 55— The effect of a holding chamber on albuterol metered-dose inhaler product differences.