Types of Medication Delivery

Inhaled medications are often used to treat asthma. There are many different types of devices used to deliver these medications.

Inhaled Medicines:
Inhaled medicines are often used to treat asthma because they go directly into the airways. As a result, they can be used in smaller doses and cause fewer side effects. They also begin to work faster than swallowed oral medicines. Medicine can be inhaled by the following devices:

• Metered Dose Inhaler (MDI)
  • The metered dose inhaler (MDI) consists of a pressurized canister of medication in a plastic case with a mouthpiece. Pressing the MDI releases the medication in a mist.
  • How to use your metered dose inhaler
• Metered Dose Inhaler with holding chamber
  • A holding chamber helps you use a metered dose inhaler more effectively because it helps more medicine get to the airways, allows for slow inhalation of the medicine, and it dilutes and lessons the bad taste of medicine.
  • How to use your metered dose inhaler with holding chamber
• Breath-actuated MDI
  • With this device the patient's breath triggers the release of medicine. This device eliminates improper position and poor timing of medicine release and inhalation.
  • The Maxair Autohaler is the main breath-actuated MDI.
  • How to use the Maxair Autohaler
• Dry powder inhaler (DPI)
  • Some asthma medications can be taken as a dry powder. The powder is stored in the body of the device or in capsules. It is drawn in by your breath.
  • Some people find these devices easier to use.
  • Some benefits of these inhalers are:
    • Proper positioning and timing are easy
    • You can tell when your inhaler is empty
  • It contains no propellant, so does not damage the ozone layer.
  • Some disadvantages of these inhalers are:
    • Since more medicine lands in your mouth, you must rinse your mouth and spit it out to reduce the possible bad effect.
  • How to use the Diskus
  • How to use the Flexhaler
• Compressor driven nebulizer
  • A nebulizer delivery system consists of a nebulizer (a small plastic bowl with a screw-top lid) and a source for compressed air. The nebulizer changes the medication from a liquid to a mist.
  • Nebulizers are often used for those who are too sick to use a holding chamber.
  • Small children are often directed to use a mask with the nebulizer.
  • How to use your compressor driven nebulizer

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