Inhalers deliver the medicine straight to the lungs. It can take time to get use to the different ways inhaler work.
Quick-relief medicines (bronchodilators) relax the muscles that tighten in the airways and reduce mucus. They are taken at the first sign of symptoms. Controller (“preventer”) medicines reduce inflammation in the lungs and help prevent asthma symptoms over time. They contain steroids and are use daily – even when you don’t have any symptoms.
What is it?
When it comes to inhale asthma medication, you have a few options for whichever kind your doctor prescribes. Working out which one is best for you can take time and may change as your symptoms fluctuate. Your doctor will consider how severe your asthma is, what triggers it, and your lifestyle when determining which inhaler device to recommend.
The inhalers you can use for your medicine include pressurize MDIs (medication canisters), dry powder inhalers, and breath-actuate inhalers. Your doctor will help you figure out which type of inhaler is best for your condition and will also teach you how to use it correctly. Make sure to follow the manufacturer instructions for your particular inhaler device, and always keep it clean. Store it in a safe place where it will not be expose to moisture and extreme temperature changes.
Reliever Inhalers
White Inhaler usually contain short-acting bronchodilators like salbutamol and terbutaline, which are designe to immediately relieve your asthma symptoms. They relax the muscles in the airways and open them wider, helping you to breathe more easily. Reliever inhalers can be use a few times a day, as needed.
Green inhalers typically contain long-acting beta-agonist preventer medicines, which must be taken daily to help reduce your symptoms and prevent them from recurring. Preventer inhalers can be use a few to several times a day, depending on your prescription. Examples of preventer medications are Salmeterol (Serevent) and Flovent (fluticasone).
Breath-Actuate Inhalers
Breath-actuate inhalers, such as the Ellipta inhaler, do not require the hand-breath coordination that is necessary for a pressurize MDI. These inhalers are power by the user’s breathing, which is direct into a small tube attach to the canister.
When you use this type of inhaler, you should press down on the mouthpiece and breathe in slowly, holding your breath until you hear a click. Do not breathe out into the inhaler, and clean the plastic holder each week. You should also replace the cap after each use and store it where it will not be expose to moisture or extreme temperature changes.
How does it work?
It is important to have your doctor, nurse or pharmacist show you how to use your inhaler properly so that it works well for you. Inhale deeply and slowly while holding the inhaler in your mouth. Aim for a count of 3 seconds to ensure that the medicine goes deep into your lungs. It takes practice to get the timing right, especially when you first begin using your Green Asthma Inhaler. It is also helpful to have a stopwatch handy so that you can test how long it takes for you to fill your lungs with air.
Different kinds of inhalers treat the symptoms of asthma in different ways. Some work quickly to stop acute breathing problems (reliever inhalers) while others are use daily to lower your risk of having breathing problems at all (controller medicines). Many people use a combination of inhale drugs, usually an inhale corticosteroid and a long-acting beta-agonist.
Your doctor will prescribe the 1 inhaler that is best for you, and may give you a choice between a pressurize MDI (Methadose inhaler) or a dry powder inhaler (DPI). Most patients choose to use an MDI because the drug is already contain in the aerosol spray of the inhaler and does not require you to add anything to it to make it work.
Unlike an MDI, a DPI requires you to add a little medicine powder to the inhaler before each use. These inhalers are often smaller and more convenient than an MDI, and they have the advantage of not requiring you to coordinate hand-breath timing. However, the medication particles in a DPI are much smaller than those in an MDI and can be difficult to see. Some patients prefer the larger dose of medication that is available with an MDI.
It is important to read the instructions on your inhaler carefully and follow them exactly. If your inhaler has a counter on it, be sure to mark the number of puffs use on the counter each time you use it, and replace the counter cap after each use. Clean your inhaler each week with warm water and a cotton swab. Inhalers that are not cleane regularly can become block by a buildup of dirt and moisture. Store your inhaler away from extreme temperatures, and be sure to replace the lid each time you use it.
What is the side effect profile?
There is no cure for asthma, but medications can help manage symptoms such as wheezing and tightness in the chest. The type of medication use will depend on your response to the condition, but there are a range of options available from your GP and pharmacist. Buy Round Inhaler are fast-acting and can be use to treat sudden symptoms (known as rescue medications), while others work daily to prevent symptoms from arising, known as controller medicines. There are also combination inhalers that combine a reliever with a long-acting beta agonist, such as Flovent (fluticasone).
Using an inhaler can take some getting use to, and many people find it easier to use a spacer device that helps the medicine get into the lungs more effectively. It is also important to know how to use your inhaler properly so you get the most benefit from it, and to check the medication labels on your medicine regularly. If you have a quick-relief inhaler and experience any severe symptoms, such as difficulty breathing, chest pains or swelling, coughing up blood, or if your inhaler doesn’t seem to be working, call 999 immediately.
Most inhalers have a color-coding system to make it easy for you to identify which medication you are taking. The color-coding system was develope when most inhalers were meter dose inhalers, and they all tend to look similar – the different colors help you tell them apart. However, some inhalers do not follow the standard color-coding scheme, so it is essential to read your label carefully and understand which medications you are taking.
It took some time for Jane’s GP and consultant to find the right medication to help her, but she now feels that she is 95% in control of her asthma. She also takes a long-acting beta agonist medication that works to relax the muscles in her airways, call Serevent (salmeterol) or Oxis (formoterol). This is taken every day and is a controller medicine.
The cost of inhalers can be high, but this is partly due to the way that the health care system works – insurance companies and private pharmaceutical companies all play their part in keeping costs up. Inhalers can also be expensive because of the patents that exist on them, but it is possible to save money by finding out how to pay for them.
What is the cost?
The cost of asthma medication can be high, even for people with health insurance. But there are steps patients can take to help reduce the price. One is to shop around – prices can vary. Another is to ask for a generic version of the medicine. A third is to look for discounts or rebates from the drug company. A final option is to ask the pharmacist about assistance programs. specialitymedz drug companies and nonprofit organizations offer free or discount inhalers for patients who qualify.
Those programs often have waiting lists, but they can fill a gap. Those gaps are especially wide for low-income patients without insurance. Syam Bandi, a pharmacist at Adams Farm Pharmacy in Greensboro, says he sees many patients who come into his pharmacy with an emergency inhaler prescription and can’t afford the medication. He often helps them find manufacturer coupons to get the medication for free or less than the cash price, and he works with community foundations and other non-profits to try to fill other access holes.
Medication pricing is complex in the United States. Thousands of actors, from pharmaceutical manufacturers to pharmacies and insurance companies to the federal government, influence the final price paid for medicines. And that system often discriminates against poor or vulnerable patients. For example, people with asthma are more likely to be uninsure or underinsure than those who don’t have the condition. And they are more likely to die from asthma than those who are insured.
Asthma is the most common chronic illness in children and adults. It’s also the most common cause of emergency department visits and hospitalizations in the United States. People who cannot afford their medications may cycle in and out of the emergency room, getting treatment for asthma attacks that could have been prevent with a regular dose of inhale steroids or other medications.
The cost of inhalers is a problem for millions of Americans with asthma and other respiratory conditions. That’s why the Asthma and Allergy Network is partnering with senators to push for better transparency on medication costs and to make sure everyone has access to the care they need. Last fall, AAAN share patient stories and our Asthma Disparities in America report with members of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. That panel launch an investigation into the high price of inhalers this year.