Types of Inhalers and Comparison between Them

Living with asthma can be quite a difficult thing. However, the patients of asthma as well as the people living with them have learned to adapt with the condition. It’s important to be able to know the first steps to aid the asthma patients. Knowing the types of medication will also be helpful. Amongst all of the medications used for asthma, there are inhalers those will help delivering medication directly to the lungs. These are the most common medication used by a lot of people. As inhalers are widely used, this type of medication receives further development and getting better time after time

How Does Inhaler Work?

As aforementioned, inhalers are being used to deliver medication directly to lungs. It sounds simple and people can easily think that there's only one type of this handheld medication. That's actually not true as inhalers have types depending on how they deliver the drugs or medications. Basically, there are only two types of inhalers (three including nebulizers).

· Dry Powder Inhalers (DPI)

For the people who fear the chemical propellant in inhalers, this type of inhalers will be perfect. The medication used in these inhalers won't be push or propelled. In using this inhaler, users will need to breathe deep and fast breaths. That's the way to transfer the medication to lungs. Because of the need to breathe deep and fast, many people having difficulties to use it during asthma attack. There are three types of DPI to be found: the dry power tube inhaler, single-dose powder disk inhaler and the powder disk inhaler.

· Metered Dose Inhalers (MDI)

The inhalers in this type consist of pressurized canister filled with medication that will be fit into the plastic mouthpiece. Most of inhalers in this type will need the medication to be released by pushing the canister further into the mouthpiece or to put it simpler, it works like the spray can. Push the inhaler and then breathe the medication. In some cases, people use spacer. It’s the tool that holds medication in a tube between mouth and inhaler. It makes breathing the medication easier. Spacer is being used mainly by children.

A Comparison to Inhaler Types and Features

Dry Powder Inhaler	Metered Dose Inhaler	Metered Dose Inhaler (with Spacer)
Small size, convenient to be carried around.	Small size, convenient to be carried around.	Less convenient to be carried around.
Usage requires deep and fast breathing.	Usage doesn’t require deep and fast breathing.	Usage doesn’t require deep and fast breathing.
A little accident of breathing out can blow the mediation away.	There will be no problem from accidently breathing out.	There will be no problem from accidently breathing out.
It doesn’t need the coordination of breathing and medication release.	Some types require a little coordination of breathing and medication release.	Spacer provides easier way to coordinate breathing and medication release.
May cause medication stuck on the back of throat and tongue.	May cause medication stuck on the back of throat and tongue.	Less medication stuck on the back of throat and tongue.
It’s easy to tell if the device runs out of medication.	Some types don’t have a way to tell how many medication doses left.	Some types don’t have a way to tell how many medication doses left.
The single-dose type requires capsule loading for every usage.	It requires shaking and priming.	It requires shaking and priming as well as correcting spacer’s placement.
Mediation might clump because of high humidity.	Humidity doesn’t affect the medication in its canister.	Humidity doesn’t affect the medication in its canister.
Dexterity might be required to use the cocking device.	The usage of cocking device in general is not required.	The usage of cocking device in general is not required.

What Kind of Drugs Being Used for Inhalers?

Naturally, the medications inside of the inhalers are ones to treat asthma. In general, the medications will help patients of asthma to deal with their condition. The different types of medication will work differently. A lot of inhalers contain steroids such as the prednisone that will be good in treating inflammation. Bronchodilator is another type of drug that can be found used in the inhalers. This mediation will help asthma patients to open up the airways so they can breathe with ease. There are also inhalers those contain both of these medications. These inhalers are known as the combination inhalers.

The inhalers containing steroids are called as anti-inflammatory inhalers. They'll have steroids and help in reducing swelling and mucus of the airways as well as preventing asthma attacks. The medications include:

· Steroids like Alvesco, Aerospan, Asmanex, Qvar, Flovent and Pulmicort.

· Mast cell stabilizers (the cromolyn sodium)

The inhalers containing Bronchodilator are called Bronchodilator asthma inhalers. They are either the short-acting or the long-acting medications. These inhalers will help to widen the airways in order to ease the asthma systems such as coughing, shortness of breath and wheezing. The medications include:

· Combivent and DuoNeb inhalers those contain both of albuterol and ipratropium (can be given with help of nebulizers).

· Long-acting beta-agonists (Serevent and Foradil) contain both the long-acting beta-agonist as well as steroid including Advair, Dulera as well as Symbicort.

· Short-acting beta-agonists such as Ventolin HPA, ProAirHFA, Xoponex, and Proventil HFA.

What Type of Inhaler Will Be Suitable to Be Used?

Every individual may have the different requirements. One may be comfortable to use a particular type of inhaler while they not for the other options. In order to find out the true best inhalers to be used, it’s important to consult about this matter with the doctor. When a patient will choose an inhaler, it’s also important to know the correct way of using the inhaler. Sing the inhaler correctly is an essential thing in order to make sure that the correct dose of medication can be acquired. Ask the doctor to show the correct way of using the inhaler and talk to the doctor if problems arise. Pay attention to the expiration dates as well.