Asthma Inhalation Devices

Abstract

Asthma is treated mainly with inhaled medications in several forms, including the pressurized Metered Dose Inhaler (pMDI). Unfortunately, appropriate delivery of the chosen drug depends heavily on the patient's inhaler technique. The Global initiative for Asthma (GINA) suggests that the correct use of inhalers is an important feature in preventing exacerbations of asthma. Several studies have shown that poor use of the inhaler device is the main feature in poorly controlled disease. Many asthma patients derive incomplete benefit from their inhaled medication because they do not use their inhaler devices correctly or they fail to maintain the correct inhaler technique. This is clearly one of the major limitations in treating Asthma. Informing patients about their asthma could help in achieving better control over their asthma symptoms. Asthma patients need also to be shown and trained on how to use their prescribed inhaler devices properly. Not only various patients' characteristics but also the device that patients use to inhale the medicine has an effect on correct inhalation technique. Further, there is evidence that the use of multiple inhaler types confuses the patient and increases the risk of errors in their inhaler use.