Open your mouth wide, and place the inhaler about 2 inches in front of your mouth. (Or you can put the HFA in your mouth, between your teeth, with your tongue flat under the mouthpiece and your lips sealed.) To ensure the spacer is working correctly, look for movement in the valve when breathing in and out.

Combivent and DuoNeb inhalers contain both albuterol and ipratropium (a bronchodilator); albuterol and ipratropium may also be given using a nebulizer . Many inhalers contain steroids, like prednisone, to treat inflammation. Others have a type of drug called a bronchodilator to open up your airways. Some have both – this is known as a combination inhaler. American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI): "Cumulative effects of formoterol administered by a dry powder inhaler," "Inhalers," "Anti-inflammatory effects of inhaled steroids delivered by HFA-MDI vs delivery by dry powder inhaler."Bronchodilator asthma inhalers are either short- or long-acting. They widen your airways to ease symptoms like wheezing , shortness of breath, and coughing . They include: References: 1. Terzano C (2001). Pressurized metered dose inhalers and add-on devices. Pulmonary Pharmacology & Therapeutics. 14, 351-366. Levy ML et al. Asthma patients’ inability to use a pressurized metered-dose inhaler (pMDI) correctly correlates with poor asthma control as defined by the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) strategy: a retrospective analysis. Prim Care Respir J. 2013; Dec;22(4):406-11 McIvor RA et al. Optimizing the delivery of inhaled medication for respiratory patients: the role of valved holding chambers. Canadian Respiratory Journal 2018.

Made of durable thermoplastic and designed to meet rigorous sterilisation requirements in hospitals and clinics Formerly called metered dose inhalers (MDIs), HFAs give the drug through a small, handheld aerosol canister. They work like a spray can. You push the inhaler, it sprays out the medicine, and you breathe it in. A tube-like gadget called a spacer can help kids or people with trouble breathing use an HFA more easily. Suggett J et al. The impact of inhalation delay on lung drug delivery: using functional respiratory imaging (FRI) to compare metered dose inhaler (MDI) and MDI/Valved Holding Chamber (VHC) Systems. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2020;201:A5889. Long-acting beta-agonists ( Foradil , Serevent ). The combination inhalers containing both a long-acting beta-agonist and a steroid include Advair , Dulera, and Symbicort . Long-acting anticholinergics such as tiotropium bromide (Respimat, Spiriva ), for anyone age 6 or older. This medicine can be used along with your regular maintenance medication. Trelegy Ellipta combination inhalers include both an anticholinergic and a long-acting beta agonist as well as a corticosteroid.Unlike other spacers, the Space Chamber is easy to disassemble for convenient cleaning. It’s dishwasher safe, and because of its antistatic properties, the device may even be towel dried without increasing static cling inside the chamber. The spacer and mask may also be boiled for disinfection.