Canadian Thoracic Society – 2010 Consensus Summary for children six years of age and over, and adults. If you notice your spacer making a whistling sound, that means you’re breathing in too fast. If you need to take another dose, take the mouthpiece or mask away from your face, wait 30 seconds to a minute and shake the inhaler again. Then repeat the steps. A valved holding chamber is a type of spacer that includes a one-way valve at the mouthpiece. This device does more than provide "space" between your mouth and the medicine. It also traps and holds your medicine, which gives you time to take a slow, deep breath. This allows you to breathe in all of the medicine. Levy ML et al. Asthma patients’ inability to use a pressurized metered-dose inhaler (pMDI) correctly correlates with poor asthma control as defined by the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) strategy: a retrospective analysis. Prim Care Respir J. 2013; Dec;22(4):406-11 Compact version easily fits into school bags, handbags or briefcases to allow easier storage and handling

Don’t put your spacer in a plastic bag as this will cause it to build up static and reduce the effect of the asthma medicine. Inhalers are the most effective way to get lifesaving medications to people with asthma and other lung diseases. Whether you have asthma or care for someone who does, here’s what you need to know about inhalers, including how to use one correctly. What Is an Asthma Inhaler? When you see build up of medication inside the chamber please clean it as per instructions provided in its leaflet Hi I'm Leanne, a respiratory nurse specialist at Asthma and Lung UK. I'm going to tell you how to clean and store your spacer. Boehringer Ingelheim: "US FDA Expands Approval of Tiotropium Respimat for Maintenance Treatment of Asthma in Children."

What is a spacer?

You should replace your spacer at least every year, especially if you use it daily, but some may need to be replaced sooner – ask your GP, asthma nurse or pharmacist if you’re unsure. Can be fully disassembled for easy sterilisation using an autoclave and cleaned either by hand or dishwasher (100 times Autoclavable) How do I use the inhaler? More than half of people who use an inhaler don’t use it correctly. If you have trouble, a device called a spacer can help. Many inhalers contain steroids, like prednisone, to treat inflammation. Others have a type of drug called a bronchodilator to open up your airways. Some have both – this is known as a combination inhaler. Suggett J et al. The impact of inhalation delay on lung drug delivery: using functional respiratory imaging (FRI) to compare metered dose inhaler (MDI) and MDI/Valved Holding Chamber (VHC) Systems. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2020;201:A5889.

If your child or an adult uses an HFA every day to control asthma symptoms, you can figure out how long it will last by dividing the total number of puffs in the HFA by the total puffs used every day. For example, if the HFA has 200 puffs and they use four puffs per day, divide 200 by four. In this case, the HFA would last 50 days. Using a calendar, count forward that many days to learn when to discard the HFA and begin using a new one.Formerly called metered dose inhalers (MDIs), HFAs give the drug through a small, handheld aerosol canister. They work like a spray can. You push the inhaler, it sprays out the medicine, and you breathe it in. A tube-like gadget called a spacer can help kids or people with trouble breathing use an HFA more easily. For in-depth information, see WebMD's article on Asthma, Steroids, and Other Anti-Inflammatory Drugs .

How well do you know your asthma inhaler? What does it do for you? What drugs are in it? Do you puff and breathe, or breathe and puff? If you’re using a spacer with rubber valves, replace it if the valves become stiff or brittle. Tips for cleaning your spacer Unlike other spacers, the Space Chamber is easy to disassemble for convenient cleaning. It’s dishwasher safe, and because of its antistatic properties, the device may even be towel dried without increasing static cling inside the chamber. The spacer and mask may also be boiled for disinfection. American College of Chest Physicians: "Using Your MDI-Closed Mouth Technique, Patient Education Guide." McIvor RA et al. Optimizing the delivery of inhaled medication for respiratory patients: the role of valved holding chambers. Canadian Respiratory Journal 2018.There are two breathing techniques for adults and children to use with a spacer: ‘tidal or multiple breathing’ and ‘single breath and hold’: An asthma inhaler is a handheld device that delivers medication straight into your lungs. You get the drugs faster -- and with fewer side effects -- than you would if you took it by pill or IV. Many new inhalers include a dose counter to show how much medication is left. It’s hard to tell with older models, most of which make a puff sound long after the medication is gone. This could be a serious problem if you need the inhaler and it’s empty. Long-acting beta-agonists ( Foradil , Serevent ). The combination inhalers containing both a long-acting beta-agonist and a steroid include Advair , Dulera, and Symbicort . Open your mouth wide, and place the inhaler about 2 inches in front of your mouth. (Or you can put the HFA in your mouth, between your teeth, with your tongue flat under the mouthpiece and your lips sealed.)