Sometimes it can be hard to know whether you are using an inhaler properly and getting the most benefit from it. Understanding the different inhaler types helps patients use them more effectively. The goal of this article is to help patients gain the right knowledge about different types of asthma inhalers and to provide high-quality care to asthma patients.
Quality asthma care involves not only initial diagnosis and appropriate treatment to obtain asthma control, but also long-term, regular follow-up care to maintain control. Asthma control focuses on reducing the frequency and intensity of symptoms and functional limitations that a patient has recently experienced. It also reduces the likelihood of future asthma attacks, progressive decline in lung function or medication side effects. Obtaining and maintaining asthma control requires using appropriate medications to address the triggers that cause worsening of symptoms, helping patients to learn self-management skills, and monitoring over the long term to assess control and adjust treatment accordingly.
An understanding of an asthma inhaler
An inhaler is a small device that delivers medicine directly to the lungs. Inhalers are available as dry powder, metered-dose, or soft-mist inhalers. These targeted deliveries allow quick action and fewer side effects. The most common types of asthma inhalers use medication that helps open airways or reduce inflammation in your lungs. Inhalers are particularly useful in treating respiratory conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The most prescribed inhaler is Asthalin HFA, which contains the active ingredient salbutamol (a fast-acting bronchodilator). Inhalers are specifically designed to target inflammation, bronchoconstriction (tightening of the muscles around the airways), and excess mucus production. Without the use of inhalers, these asthma symptoms can worsen over time and ultimately lead to severe attacks that need immediate medical attention.
Difference between an inhaler and a nebuliser
Inhalers and nebulisers are both meant to deliver medications to treat lung conditions. Inhalers are handheld devices that don’t require electricity. They deliver dry powder or a spray of medicine, though some use a soft mist of liquid medication. On the other hand, a nebuliser is a device that converts liquid medicine into a mist that can be easily inhaled. These are electric or battery-powered devices that push air through a tube, a small medicine container and a mask or mouthpiece. You sit with a device and inhale the medicine through a connected mouthpiece or facemask. This allows the medication to enter the lungs directly.
Uses of an inhaler
Individuals suffering from chronic lung conditions that affect their breathing pattern, like asthma or chronic pulmonary disease (COPD), are most often prescribed inhalers. Inhalers are generally prescribed to prevent or manage your symptoms, and fast-acting inhalers (rescue inhalers) are used during an asthma attack or worsening COPD, when breathing becomes more difficult.
In addition to asthma, rescue inhalers and inhaled corticosteroids can be prescribed for respiratory conditions. Like any other medication, you should only use the inhaler prescribed to you.
Inhalers for asthma
Different types of inhalers for asthma are available; inhaled corticosteroids are usually recommended to prevent asthma symptoms, in combination with a rescue inhaler for rapid relief during an asthma episode. If inhaled corticosteroid medicines failed to relieve asthma symptoms, your healthcare specialist may add a long-acting bronchodilator, like a long-acting beta agonist (LABA), to your asthma treatment plan.
Common inhalers for COPD
Most prescribed inhalers for COPD symptoms are LABA and/or inhaled corticosteroids. Examples include Budesonide/formoterol and Fluticasone/Salmeterol. You may also be provided with a rescue inhaler for worsening symptoms or when yoru breathing issues get worse.
Different types of asthma inhalers
As mentioned above, inhaled devices, including pressurised metered-dose inhalers, soft mist inhalers, and dry powder inhalers, are available. Here are the types of inhaled treatment for asthma and COPD:
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- Short-acting or reliever/rescue inhalers – Short-acting bronchodilators are intended for use during an asthma attack or worsening of COPD when patients are experiencing severe breathing problems. These open airways in the lungs provide quick relief for sudden attacks. People with asthma should always carry these. These reliever inhalers help you breathe more quickly during a severe asthma attack, but their effects only last a few hours, so they do not work for long-term management of the condition. Examples of short-acting bronchodilators include Levalbuterol, Albuterol, and Ipratropium.
- Long-acting bronchodilators or preventer medicines – These preventer inhalers are formulated to open airways in the lungs and must be taken daily to control COPD or asthma. They are intended for daily use to control chronic airway inflammation. However, they do not offer immediate relief but work overtime to reduce the frequency and severity of the asthma symptoms. Healthcare specialists may also prescribe long-acting bronchodilators along with inhaled corticosteroids to manage asthma symptoms. The duration of the effects of preventer inhalers varies depending on the medication. They are available in soft-mist and dry-powder inhalers. Commonly prescribed preventer inhalers include Tiotropium, Salmeterol, and Formoterol.
- Inhaled corticosteroids – They need to be used daily to prevent asthma attacks. They are extremely effective in reducing inflammation. Examples of these asthma inhaler names include Budesonide, Beclomethasone dipropionate, Fluticasone, Mometasone, and Ciclesonide.
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- Combination Inhalers – They contain multiple medications in one inhaler. For example, a combination of a long-acting bronchodilator (LABA) and a corticosteroid is prescribed for daily use when asthma is not well controlled with a preventer inhaler alone in cases of moderate to severe asthma. Combination inhalers provide long-term control of inflammation and help maintain muscle relaxation around the airways.
Types of inhalers
Here are the different types of inhalers for asthma explained:
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- Metered-dose inhalers – Also called puffers, they hold the medicine in a pressurised canister. The canister sits in a handheld container along with a mouthpiece. The patient must coordinate pressing the canister and inhaling simultaneously. Once you press the canister, a propellant that helps the medicine move out of the canister delivers a puff of medicine from the mouthpiece. The patient is supposed to inhale the puff through the mouth to deliver the asthma medication into the lungs. Metered doses are meant to deliver a single dose at a time from a canister that carries multiple doses.
- Dry powder – Dry powder inhalers deliver medicine in powder form. While using it, patients take a quick, deep breath to pull the powder into the lungs. Generally, these types of asthma inhalers are disk-shaped with a mouthpiece. Some brands have a place to load medicine. There are different brands and styles of inhalers available, each with its own activation and use instructions. Examples of these asthma inhaler names include Diskus, Twisthaler, Breezhaler, and Flexhaler.
- Soft mist – Soft mist inhalers convert liquid medicine into a fine mist. Users inhale the mist through their mouths to deliver the medication to the lungs.
Takeaway!
Talk to a healthcare specialist if a patient feels like a specific inhaler is too hard to use or is not effective for them. There may be several other options your healthcare specialist can recommend for better results.
