This includes basic knowledge about few types of inhaler devices and important facts about practical usage.

1. Inhaler Devices
Harindu Udapitiya,
Temporary Lecturer,
Division of Pharmacology.

2. Overview
• What is inhaler?
• Advantages Vs disadvantages
• Types of inhalers
– Properties
– How to use
– Advantages and disadvantages

3. 1.What is inhaler?
• An inhaler is a medical device used for
delivering medication into the body via the
lungs.

4. • Inhalant drugs
1. Broncodilators
2. Corticosteroids-Beclomethasone
3. Mucolytic agents-Acetylcysteine
4. Antimicrobials-Ribavirin,
Tobramycin
5. Immune modulators-
Cyclosporine, Interferon α

5. 6. Anesthetics-opiods

6. 2.Advantages Vs Disadvantages
• Advantages:
1.Less systemic toxicity
2.More rapid onset of medication
3.Delivery to target of action
4.Higher concentrations available in the lung

7. • Disadvantages:
1.Time and effort consuming
2.Limitation of delivery device

8. 3.Devices
1.Metered-dose inhalers

9. Properties
A liquid propellant
Inhalation technique is critical for optimal
drug delivery

11. How to use
Without chamber

12. 1.Remove the cap from the MDI and shake well.
2.Breathe out all the way.
3.Place the mouthpiece of the inhaler between
your teeth and seal your lips tightly around it.
4.As you start to breathe in slowly, press down on
the canister one time.

13. 5. Keep breathing in as slowly and deeply
as you can. (It should take about 5 to 7
seconds for you to completely breathe in.)
6. Hold your breath for 10 seconds (count to
10 slowly) to allow the medication to reach
the airways of the lung.
7. Repeat the above steps for each puff
ordered by your doctor. Wait about 1 minute
between puffs.

14. 8. Replace the cap on the MDI when
finished.
9. If you are using a corticosteroid MDI, you
should use a valved holding chamber as
described above.

15. With chamber

16. 1.Remove the cap from the MDI and
chamber. Shake well.
2.Insert the MDI into the open end of the
chamber (opposite the mouthpiece).
3.Breathe out completely.
4.Place the mouthpiece of the chamber
between your teeth and seal your lips
tightly around it.

17. 5. Press the canister once.
6. Breathe in slowly and completely through
your mouth. If you hear a "horn-like" sound,
you are breathing too quickly and need to
slow down.
7. Hold your breath for 10 seconds (count to
10 slowly) to allow the medication to reach
the airways of the lung.

18. 8. Repeat the above steps for each puff
ordered by your doctor. Wait about 1 minute
in between puffs.
9. Replace the cap on your MDI when
finished.
10. If you are using a corticosteroid MDI,
rinse your mouth and gargle using water or
mouthwash after each use. You should
always use a chamber with a steroid MDI.

19. Advantages Vs Disadvantages
Advantages
•Rapid application
•Handling
•Multidose
Disdvantages
•Hand-breathe
coordinations
•İneffective use in poor
ventilated patients
•Oropharyngeal
deposition and local
side effects

20. 2. Dry powder inhalers
Single dose

21. Handihaler

22. Multi dose
Discus inhaler
Turbuhaler

23. Properties
just dry-powder and no propulsion system.
manual mechanism to insert one dose of
dry-powder drug into the mouthpiece.

25. How to use
1. To load a dose, hold the DPI with mouthpiece
up to ensure proper loading of the medication.
2.Twist the grip fully in one direction as far as it
will go and then fully back again. You will hear a
click. The DPI is now loaded with a dose.
3.Turn your head away from the inhaler and
breathe out as much air as you comfortably can.

27. 4. Place the device in your mouth and breathe in
as forcefully and deeply as you can.
5. Hold your breath for 10 seconds.
6. Take the DPI away from your mouth and exhale
slowly.
7. If more than one dose is prescribed, repeat
steps 1 through 5 for each dose.
8. When your treatment is complete, replace the
white cover and twist it completely to close

28. Advantages Vs Disadvantages
Advantages
•Less patient
coordination required
•Spacer not necessary
•Compact Portable
•No propellant
•Usually higher lung
deposition than a pMDI
Disadvantages
•Work poorly if inhalation is not
forceful enough
•Many patients cannot use them
correctly (e.g.capsule handling
problems for elderly
•Most types are moisture
sensitive.
•Need to reload capsule each
time

29. 3. Nebulizer

30. Properties
•The fundamental concept of nebulizer
performance is the conversion of the
medication solution into droplets in the
respirable range of 1-5 micrometers

32. How to use

33. 1. Place the compressor where it can safely reach its
power source and where you can reach the ON/OFF
switch.
2. Wash your hands prior to preparing each treatment.
3. Use a clean nebulizer.
4. Measure the correct dose of medication and other
solutions prescribed by your physician. Add these to the
nebulizer.
5. Connect the air tubing from the compressor to the
nebulizer base. A finger valve may also be attached
between the nebulizer base and tubing. Make sure all
connections are snug.
6. Attach a mouthpiece to the nebulizer.

34. Advantages Vs Disadvantages
Advantages
•Provide therapy for patients
who cannot use other
inhalation modalities (eg, MDI,
DPI)
•Allow administration of large
doses of medicine
•Patient coordination not
required
•Effective with tidal breathing
•Dose modification possible
•Can be used with
supplemental oxygen
Disadvantages
•Decreased portability
•Longer set-up and
administration time
•Higher cost
•Electrical power source
required
•Contamination possible

35. Did you learn???

36. Few OSCE types
questions….

37. Question 01
1.1. What is this
device?
1.2. List 2 drugs use
with the device?
1.3. List 1 advantage
of this device.

38. Question 02
2.1. List 2 diseases
that the given device
use.
2.2. List one advice
that you give a patient
who using the device.
2.3. If a patient
having difficulty in
using the device give
an option.

39. Question 03
A
B
3.1. What is this
instrument?
3.2. identify A and B.
3.3. Mention 2 conditions
which uses given
instrument.

40. Summery
1. Introduction on inhalers
What?
Advantages Vs Disadvantages.
Drugs.

41. • 2. Devices
A.MDI
B.DPI
C.Nebulizer
Properties
How to use
Advantages Vs
Disadvantages