Using an inhaler device is a skill. After many years of using inhaler devices, you can develop habits that may not allow you to make the most of your inhaled medicines. You may also have extra medicines prescribed over time that can complicate your treatment schedule: as the more device types you are using, the greater the chance you have of using them incorrectly. If you are using more than two device types, ask your doctor if it is possible to reduce the number of device types without changing the medicines you are on.
Research shows that up to 90% of patients don’t use their inhaler devices correctly.
Having your inhaler device technique assessed regularly by an appropriate member of your health care or pulmonary rehabilitation team is essential. You can also check with your managing doctor, nurse or a pharmacist.
To make the most of using an inhaler device, it is important to position your body appropriately. Typically you should be sitting upright or standing while taking your inhaled medicine.
The inhalation devices covered in this section include:
- Puffer and spacer
- Puffer (metered dose inhaler or Rapihaler™)
- Haleraid®
- Autohaler™
- Turbuhaler®
- Accuhaler™
- HandiHaler®
- Breezehaler™
- Genuair®
- Ellipta®
- Respimat®
- Nebuliser
