ASTHMA DEVICES: INHALER ATTACHMENTS

Posted on December 12, 2010, under Asthma.

Because of the difficulties some people have with co-ordinating their breathing when inhaling sprays, some inhaler modifications have been devised to assist delivery of medication to the lungs.

SPACERS

A number of asthmatics suffer the side effects of a throat irritation or I hoarse voice from taking regular doses of some metered dose aerosols (mainly inhaled steroids). The use of spacers — plastic containers that are fitted on to the end of metered dose inhalers — can help minimize these side effects.

A spacer allows time between pressing the cylinder and breathing in the medication. After the inhaler is actuated, the spray is contained in the spacer volume before being breathed in. The aerosol cloud breathed in from a spacer has smaller droplets of medication than the spray taken directly from an aerosol, so the cloud is able to penetrate more deeply into the lungs. Another advantage of using a spacer is that less spray is deposited on the lining of the throat and mouth. Some studies suggest that large volume spacers have the ability to improve aerosol deposition by about 50 percent, and often are as good as nebulizers.

The most commonly used small-volume spacers (50 -100 ml) are Misthaler and Aerotube. The most commonly used large-volume spacers (750 ml) are aerochambers, or Volumatic, Nebuhaler and Fison Air. The Haleraid, a clip-on device for inhalers, allows disabled and arthritic people to easily actuate the aerosol cylinder.

Spacer devices are bulky and less convenient than the small, easy to carry aerosol sprays, but they are sometimes necessary for people who are unable to effectively use a metered dose aerosol. All these appliances can be purchased from pharmacies. If they are not in stock, your pharmacist can order them from the manufacturers.

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ASTHMA DEVICES: INHALER ATTACHMENTSBecause of the difficulties some people have with co-ordinating their breathing when inhaling sprays, some inhaler modifications have been devised to assist delivery of medication to the lungs.SPACERSA number of asthmatics suffer the side effects of a throat irritation or I hoarse voice from taking regular doses of some metered dose aerosols (mainly inhaled steroids). The use of spacers — plastic containers that are fitted on to the end of metered dose inhalers — can help minimize these side effects.A spacer allows time between pressing the cylinder and breathing in the medication. After the inhaler is actuated, the spray is contained in the spacer volume before being breathed in. The aerosol cloud breathed in from a spacer has smaller droplets of medication than the spray taken directly from an aerosol, so the cloud is able to penetrate more deeply into the lungs. Another advantage of using a spacer is that less spray is deposited on the lining of the throat and mouth. Some studies suggest that large volume spacers have the ability to improve aerosol deposition by about 50 percent, and often are as good as nebulizers.The most commonly used small-volume spacers (50 -100 ml) are Misthaler and Aerotube. The most commonly used large-volume spacers (750 ml) are aerochambers, or Volumatic, Nebuhaler and Fison Air. The Haleraid, a clip-on device for inhalers, allows disabled and arthritic people to easily actuate the aerosol cylinder.Spacer devices are bulky and less convenient than the small, easy to carry aerosol sprays, but they are sometimes necessary for people who are unable to effectively use a metered dose aerosol. All these appliances can be purchased from pharmacies. If they are not in stock, your pharmacist can order them from the manufacturers.*28\148\2*

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