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Medical Forum / Diseases and Disorders / Asthma / September 2006Question about correct inhaler use
On all the instructions for all my inhalers (ie albuterol, azmacort, intal, atrovent) all state to wait at least one minute between inhalations. My question is why? I do hold my breath for as long as I can when I inhale the medicine, but why must I wait a minute before I take the next dose? What is the benefit in doing this? Waiting a minute between each dose takes forever when you have to take multiple puffs of several different inhalers, espically if you're in a rush in the mornings. So just wondering why, if anyone knows, do the instructions say to wait 1 minute between puffs? Thanks for any input! > On all the instructions for all my inhalers (ie albuterol, azmacort, > intal, atrovent) all state to wait at least one minute between [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > > Thanks for any input! I don't think there is a really good reason and doubt many people do it (I know I don't). In theory, with the bronchodilators (like albuterol), some people say it is to let the airways open some with the first puff and make the second one more effective. By this logic I'm not sure how they picked one minute instead of 5 or 30. I think they generalise from the dilators to the steroids. I would argue that in this case it is actually better to do it with two successive breaths rather than waiting. But even that argument is just mental masturbation and probably full of stuff. I think it is far more improtant to take the medicine, i.e. not let inconvenience make you miss doses, and to use good inhaler technique.  Signature00doc > > On all the instructions for all my inhalers (ie albuterol, azmacort, > > intal, atrovent) all state to wait at least one minute between [quoted text clipped - 26 lines] > -- > 00doc Could you explain what you feel is good inhaler technique? I've been told 3 different ways to do it. I can't even hold my breath for 10 seconds like I have been told I have passed out doing that. inhaler use: I just put the inhaler near my mouth and while pushing the thing, breath in. suppose to use a spacer though, but it is so hard to carry that in a pocket Melissa > Could you explain what you feel is good inhaler technique? I've been told > 3 > different ways to do it. Here is a good discussion. http://patients.uptodate.com/topic.asp?file=al_asthm/5100 This applies to the older CFC inhalers. The newer HFA versions have a weaker puff and so don't require a spacer if you can coordinate the breath and puff well enough. You can put the HFA ones right on your lips. If you do use a spacer with them you will still get more medicine and less throat deposition. To use a CFC inhaler without a spacer you use the same technique but may breath in faster than 6 seconds (it will float away before then if not held in the spacer) and hold the inhaler away from your open lips a few inches so it all doesn't land in the back of your throat. Signature00doc > > Could you explain what you feel is good inhaler technique? I've been told > > 3 [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > -- > 00doc Here are part of the instructions when using a spacer: # Press down the top of the medication canister with the index finger to release the medication # Inhale deeply and slowly while medication is being released; this should take four to six seconds # Hold the medication within the lungs for 10 seconds before exhaling My question is: After releasing the medication, and inhaling 4 to 6 seconds, do you remove the spacer from your mouth and then close your mouth, holding the medication in your lungs for 10 seconds before exhaling? Or do you keep the spacer in your mouth the whole time, then take it out and exhale? > My question is: After releasing the medication, and inhaling 4 to 6 > seconds, do you remove the spacer from your mouth and then close your [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > and > exhale? I since you are no longer breathing in I don't think it matters. I would stop holding it there out of convenience. Signature00doc > > My question is: After releasing the medication, and inhaling 4 to 6 > > seconds, do you remove the spacer from your mouth and then close your [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > -- > 00doc Thanks for that link and for the help. "-) |
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