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Breathing Problems: Using a Metered-Dose Inhaler

Table of Contents


Overview

A metered-dose inhaler lets you breathe medicine into your lungs quickly. Inhaled medicine works faster than the same medicine in a pill. An inhaler allows you to take less medicine than you would need if you took it as a pill.

"Metered-dose" means that the inhaler gives a measured amount of medicine each time you use it. A metered-dose inhaler gives medicine in the form of a liquid mist.

Your doctor may want you to use a spacer with your inhaler. A spacer is a chamber that you attach to the inhaler. The chamber holds the medicine before you inhale it. That way, you can inhale the medicine in as many breaths as you need. Doctors recommend using a spacer with most metered-dose inhalers. This is even more important when using corticosteroid medicines.


How to use the inhaler

Getting started

To get started:

Using the inhaler with a spacer

Follow these steps for using a metered-dose inhaler with a spacer.

Person shaking inhaler and removing its cap.

1. Shake the inhaler for 5 seconds. Remove the cap.

Mouthpiece of inhaler being placed into spacer.

2. Hold the inhaler upright with the mouthpiece at the bottom. Then place the mouthpiece of the inhaler into the spacer.

Person exhaling while holding inhaler and spacer near mouth.

3. Stand or sit up straight. With the spacer a short distance from your mouth, breathe out slowly and completely.

Person with mouthpiece of spacer in mouth.

4. Place the spacer's mouthpiece in your mouth. Close your lips tightly around the mouthpiece and keep your tongue away from the opening.

Person breathing in through mouthpiece while pressing down on inhaler and then exhaling.

5. Press down on the inhaler to spray 1 puff of medicine into the spacer. Then start breathing in slowly and deeply. Hold your breath for 5 to 10 seconds. Remove the spacer's mouthpiece from your mouth. Then breathe out slowly.

Wristwatch with shading to show elapsed time.

6. If you need another puff of medicine, wait 1 minute between puffs.

Person replacing caps on inhaler and spacer.

7. Remove the inhaler from the spacer, and replace their caps.

Person rinsing mouth and spitting into cup.

8. Rinse your mouth with water if the inhaler has corticosteroids, such as fluticasone. Do not swallow the water.

Using the inhaler without a spacer

Follow these steps for using a metered-dose inhaler without a spacer.

Person shaking inhaler and removing cap.

1. Shake the inhaler for 5 seconds. Remove the cap.

Person holding inhaler.

2. Hold the inhaler upright with the mouthpiece at the bottom.

Person holding inhaler and exhaling.

3. Stand or sit up straight. Breathe out slowly and completely.

Person with lips closed around inhaler's mouthpiece.

4. Put the inhaler's mouthpiece in your mouth, and close your lips tightly around it. Keep your tongue away from the opening.

Person breathing in through inhaler and then exhaling.

5. Take one slow, deep breath while pressing the canister 1 time to release a puff of medicine. Hold your breath for 5 to 10 seconds.

Wristwatch with shading to show elapsed time.

6. If you need another puff of medicine, wait 1 minute between puffs.

Person replacing cap on inhaler.

7. Replace the cap on the inhaler.

Person swishing water in mouth and then spitting into cup.

8. Rinse your mouth with water if the inhaler has corticosteroids, such as fluticasone. Do not swallow the water.


Credits for Breathing Problems: Using a Metered-Dose Inhaler

Current as of: August 6, 2023

Author: Healthwise Staff (https://www.healthwise.org/specialpages/legal/abouthw/en)
Clinical Review Board (https://www.healthwise.org/specialpages/legal/abouthw/en)
All Healthwise education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.


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