Metered dose inhalers, MDI are very popular among people with asthma because they are quite easy to use, except for children smaller than 5 that seem not to be able to use them properly. Complete exhalation is followed by the placing of MDI to the lips, the formation of a seal around the month piece, and finally pressure on the top of the device to release the suitable close of substance that is gradually inhaled. Then, it is necessary to hold breath for about 10 seconds. Usually, two puffs are required and also a 30 seconds break between them.



Another way to use the MDI is to place it about 5 centimeters away from the mouth and follow the previous instructions. This technique is possible to execute improperly and it also places more than 80% of the substance inside the mouth, which is disturbing in case of corticosteroids because may cause oral candidosis.

To prevent this, a spacer is the best choice. It represents a chamber that fills on the mouth piece of the MDI and the patient seals the lips around the other end. Complete exhalation is followed by a puff the MDI, so that the spacer is filled with medication. The next step is inhalation, which takes the substance to the lungs. The spacer allows more substance to enter the lungs and is also very easy to use.

Breath - actuated MDIs

Breath - actuated MDIs derive from the original MDIs and brings as an innovation the fact that hand -breath coordination is no longer required. The canister is not necessary to be pushed. The rest of the steps to take a certain inhalation speed, demands the patients to inhale slowly and not all medicines are suitable for it.

Dry powder inhalers

This kind of inhalers is appropriate for children smaller than 5 years. There are inhalers made for many medications, even for corticosteroids and betas antagonists. The method to use them is almost the same as in breath - actuated MDIs, but require for the sati cuts to inhale quickly and hold breath for 10 seconds. But not all the medicines have this form too. In case of exhalation inside the container, the device is ruined.

Nebulizers

All asthma medicines are available in this form, but the most popular are short acting beta - two agonists and ipratropium bromide. The device includes a container and an air compressor attached to it. This compressor can work by batteries or by electric current. The air is blown by the compressor through the chamber and atomizes the medicine, cabling the patient to inhale it. It has the advantage that it doesn't require a specific method of inhalation, or a hand-breath coordinative.

It is appropriate for small children. The disadvantages refer to the fact that it is not possible to take it with you anyway it takes longer than MDI and is more expensive.