Asthma Inhalers:Inhalers for Asthma
Asthma Inhalers:Inhalers for Asthma,An inhaler is a device holding a medicine that you take by breathing in (inhaling). Inhalers are the main treatment for asthma. There are many different types of inhaler, which can be confusing. This leaflet gives information on: the drugs (medicines) that are inside inhalers, the various types of inhaler device, and some general information about inhalers. This leaflet is about inhalers for asthma. See separate leaflet in this series called 'Asthma', which gives more general information about asthma. There are also separate leaflets called 'Asthma - Picture Summary', 'Asthma - Peak Flow Meter' and 'Inhalers for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease'.
The drugs (medicines) inside inhalers
The drug inside an inhaler goes straight into the airways when you breathe in. This means that you need a much smaller dose than if you were to take the drug as a tablet or liquid by mouth. The airways and lungs are treated, but little of the drug gets into the rest of the body.
The proper drug name is called the generic name. Different drug companies can use the generic drug and produce different brands - the proprietary drug names. There are many different brands of inhalers. Inhalers can have generic names and be produced by different drug companies too. For some drugs there are different inhaler devices that deliver the same drug. This means that there are many types of inhaler available on prescription, all of which are produced in different colours. This can be confusing.
Because there are lots of different coloured inhalers available, it is helpful to remember their names, as well as the colour of the device. This might be important if you need to see a doctor who does not have your medical records (such as in A+E, if you are on holiday, or outside the normal opening hours of your GP surgery). It might be helpful to keep a list of the names of your medicines and inhalers in your wallet or purse. This information will prevent mistakes and confusion.
In the treatment of asthma, the drugs inside inhalers can be grouped into relievers (short-acting bronchodilators), preventers (steroid inhalers) and long-acting bronchodilators.
Reliever inhalers - contain bronchodilator drugs
You can take a reliever inhaler as required to ease symptoms when you are breathless, wheezy or tight-chested. The drug in a reliever inhaler relaxes the muscle in the airways. This opens the airways wider, and symptoms usually quickly ease. These drugs are called bronchodilators as they dilate (widen) the bronchi (airways).
The two main reliever drugs are salbutamol and terbutaline. These come in various brands made by different companies. There are different inhaler devices that deliver the same reliever drug. Salbutamol brands include Airomir®, Asmasal®, Salamol®, Salbulin®, Pulvinal Salbutamol® and Ventolin®. Terbutaline often goes by the brand name Bricanyl®. These inhalers are often (but not always) blue in colour. Other inhalers containing different medicines can be blue too. Always read the label.
If you only have symptoms every now and then, then the occasional use of a reliever inhaler may be all that you need.
If you need a reliever three times a week or more to ease symptoms, a preventer inhaler is usually advised.
Preventer inhalers - usually contain a steroid drug
These are taken every day to prevent symptoms from developing. The type of drug commonly used in preventer inhalers is a steroid. Steroids work by reducing the inflammation in the airways. When the inflammation has gone, the airways are much less likely to become narrow and cause symptoms such as wheezing.
Steroid inhalers are usually taken twice per day. If you have an exacerbation (flare-up) of your asthma symptoms, you may be advised to take the preventer inhaler more often.
It takes 7-14 days for the steroid in a preventer inhaler to build up its effect. This means it will not give any immediate relief of symptoms (like a reliever does). After a week or so of treatment with a preventer, the symptoms have often gone, or are much reduced. It can, however, take up to six weeks for maximum benefit.
If your asthma symptoms are well controlled with a regular preventer you may then not need to use a reliever inhaler very often, if at all.
Inhalers that contain drugs called cromoglycate (brand name Intal®) or nedocromil (brand name Tilade®) are sometimes used as preventers. However, they do not usually work as well as steroids.
The main inhaled steroid preventer medications are:
Beclometasone. Brands include Asmabec®, Beclazone®, Becodisks®, Clenil Modulite®, Pulvinal Beclometasone® and Qvar®. These inhalers are usually brown and sometimes red in colour.
Budesonide. Brands include Easyhaler Budesonide®, Novolizer Budesonide® and Pulmicort®.
Ciclesonide. Brand name Alvesco®.
Fluticasone. Brand name Flixotide®. This is a yellow-coloured or orange-coloured inhaler.
Mometasone. Brand name Asmanex Twisthaler®.
Long-acting bronchodilator inhalers
The drugs in these inhalers work in a similar way to relievers, but work for up to 12 hours after taking each dose. They include salmeterol (brand name Serevent® - a green-coloured inhaler) and formoterol (brand names Atimos®, Foradil®, and Oxis®).
A long-acting bronchodilator may be advised in addition to a steroid inhaler if symptoms are not fully controlled by the steroid inhaler alone.
Some brands of inhaler contain a steroid plus a long acting bronchodilator for people who need both to control their symptoms. Examples of combination inhalers are:
Fostair® (formoterol and beclometasone).
Seretide® (salmeterol and fluticasone). This is a purple-coloured inhaler.
Symbicort® (formoterol and budesonide).
Inhaler devices
Different inhaler devices suit different people. Inhaler devices can be divided into four main groups:
Pressurised metered dose inhalers (MDIs).
Breath-activated inhalers - MDIs and dry powder inhalers.
Inhalers with spacer devices.
Nebulisers.
The standard MDI inhaler
A standard MDI is shown on the right. The MDI has been used for over 40 years and is used to deliver various types and brands of drugs. It contains a pressurised inactive gas that propels a dose of drug in each 'puff'. Each dose is released by pressing the top of the inhaler. This type of inhaler is quick to use, small, and convenient to carry. It needs good co-ordination to press the canister, and breathe in fully at the same time. Sometimes these are known as evohalers (depending upon the manufacturer).
The standard MDI is the most widely used inhaler. However, many people do not use it to its best effect. Common errors include: not shaking the inhaler before using it; inhaling too sharply or at the wrong time; not holding your breath long enough after breathing in the contents.
Until recently, the propellant gas in MDI inhalers has been a chlorofluorocarbon (CFC). However, CFCs damage the Earth's ozone layer, and so are being phased out. The newer CFC-free inhalers work just as well, but they use a different propellant gas that does not damage the ozone layer.
Breath-activated inhalers
These are alternatives to the standard MDI. Some are still pressurised MDIs, but don't require you to press a canister on top. The autohaler shown on the right is an example. Another example of a breath-activated MDI is the easi-breathe inhaler.
Other breath-activated inhalers are also called dry powder inhalers. These inhalers do not contain the pressurised inactive gas to propel the drug. You don't have to push the canister to release a dose. Instead, you trigger a dose by breathing in at the mouthpiece. Accuhalers, clickhalers, easyhalers, novolizers, turbohalers, diskhalers and twisthalers are all breath-activated dry powder inhalers. You need to breathe in fairly hard to get the powder into your lungs. Some types are shown below.
The individual devices all have some differences in how they are operated but, generally, they require less co-ordination than the standard MDI. They tend to be slightly bigger than the standard MDI.
Spacer devices
Spacer devices are used with pressurised MDIs. There are various types - an example is shown opposite. The spacer between the inhaler and the mouth holds the drug like a reservoir when the inhaler is pressed. A valve at the mouth end ensures that the drug is kept within the spacer until you breathe in. When you breathe out, the valve closes. You don't need to have good co-ordination to use a spacer device.
A facemask can be fitted on to some types of spacers, instead of a mouthpiece. This is sometimes done for young children and babies who can then use the inhaler simply by breathing in and out normally through the mask.
There are several different types of spacer. Examples are: Able Spacer®, Aerochamber Plus®, Nebuchamber®, Optichamber®, Pocket Chamber®, Volumatic® and Vortex®. Some spacer devices fit all MDIs; others are only compatible with specific brands of inhalers.
Tips on using a spacer device The following are tips if you are prescribed a holding spacer. These have a valve at the mouth end - the spacer in the picture above is an example:
If your dose is more than one puff, then do one puff at a time.
Shake the inhaler before firing each puff.
Start breathing in from the mouthpiece as soon as possible after firing the puff.
Try to hold your breath for a few moments when you have breathed in.
Breathe in and out a few times before firing the next puff. Try to hold your breath for a few moments each time you breathe in.
Check that the valve opens and closes with each breath.
A facemask can be put on to the valve end for babies and young children. They just breathe normally with their face against the mask. The valve opens and closes with each breath in and out. Hold the spacer slightly tilted with the inhaler end uppermost to help the valve open and close easily.
Static charge can build up on the inside of the plastic chamber. This can attract particles of drug, and reduce the output when the spacer is used. To prevent this, wash the plastic spacer as directed by the maker's instructions. This is usually before first use, and then about once a month with washing up liquid and water. Let it dry in air without rinsing or wiping.
Nebulisers
Nebulisers are machines that turn the liquid form of your short-acting bronchodilator medicines into a fine mist, like an aerosol. You breathe this in with a facemask or a mouthpiece. Nebulisers are no more effective than normal inhalers but they are extremely useful in people who are very fatigued (tired) with their breathing, or people who are very breathless. Nebulisers are used mainly in hospital for severe attacks of asthma when large doses of inhaled drugs are needed. They are used less commonly than in the past as modern spacer devices are usually just as good as nebulisers for giving large doses of inhaled drugs. You do not need any co-ordination to use a nebuliser - you just breathe in and out, and you will breathe the drug in.
Common questions and further information
Do you get side-effects from inhalers?
At standard inhaled doses, the amount of drug is small compared with tablets or liquid drugs. Therefore, side effects tend to be much less of a problem than with tablets or liquid drugs. This is one of their main advantages. However, some side effects do occur in some people. Read the packet insert for details of possible side-effects.
One problem that might occur when using a steroid inhaler (especially if you are taking a high dose) is that the back of your throat may get sore. Thrush infection in the mouth may develop. This can usually be treated easily with a course of pastilles that you suck or liquid that you hold in your mouth. You might also notice that your voice becomes more hoarse.
If you rinse your mouth with water and brush your teeth after using a steroid inhaler you are less likely to develop a sore throat or thrush. Also, some inhaler devices (such as spacers) are less likely to cause throat problems. A change to a different device may help if mouth problems or thrush occur.
Note: a persistent hoarse voice that does not settle, needs further investigation as it can be due to other causes. If you have this symptom you should tell your GP.
If you use a high dose of inhaled steroid over a long time it may be a risk factor for developing osteoporosis. You can help to prevent osteoporosis by taking regular exercise, not smoking, and eating a diet with enough calcium.
Children who use an inhaled steroid over a long time should have their growth monitored. There is a small risk that enough steroid may get from the lungs and into the body (via the bloodstream), to delay growth. This risk has to be balanced against the risk of a child with asthma not having a steroid preventer. Long-term ill-health (such as with conditions like severe asthma) could also affect a child's growth).
Which is the best inhaler device to use?
This depends on various factors such as:
Convenience. Some inhalers are small, can go easily in a pocket, and are quick to use. For example, the standard MDI inhaler.
Your age. Children under the age of six generally cannot use dry powder inhalers. This is because such a strong breath is needed to inhale the drug within the inhaler. Children aged under 12 generally cannot use standard MDI inhalers without a spacer. Some elderly people find the MDI inhalers difficult to use.
Your co-ordination. Some devices need more co-ordination than others.
Side-effects. Some of the inhaler drug hits the back of the throat. Sometimes this can cause problems such as thrush in the mouth. This tends to be more of a problem with higher doses of steroid inhalers. Less drug hits the throat when using a spacer device. Therefore, a spacer device may be advised if you get throat problems, or need a high dose of inhaled steroid.
Often the choice of inhaler is just personal preference. Most GPs and practice nurses have a range of devices to demonstrate, and let you get a feel for them. If you are unhappy with the one you are using then ask your GP or practice nurse if you can try a different type.
source: patient
