What is inhaler ?
An inhaler is a device that gets medicine directly into a person's lungs. The medicine is a mist or spray that the person breathes in. Unlike a pill or liquid that is swallowed, an inhaler gets medicine right to the lungs. This helps people with asthma because the medicine works quickly to open up narrowed airways.
Use of Inhalers are beneficial than oral medication as they deliver medicine directly into Target site ,while minimizing the adverse side effects.
Conditions
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
Cough, wheezing and feeling breathless
Mechanism
After Drugs transferred to the lungs and they relive the symptoms and made airway open to ease the breath by relaxing the muscles around the airways and reducing the inflammation and swelling of air way.
Types of Inhalers
There are various types of inhalers according to purpose of them.
Reliever Inhalers
Preventer Inhalers
Long- acting bronchodilators
Combination Inhalers
Spacers
Reliever Inhalers
Act quickly to treat asthma symptoms and give emergency relief when you're having an asthma attack.
Every asthma patient and children under 5 who suspected of asthma are prescribed a reliver inhaler.
Types
Metered dose inhalers
Breath actuated inhalers
Dry powder inhalers
Drugs usually use 💊
Salbutamol
Fenoterol
Ipratropium bromide
Tiotropium
Preventer Inhalers
They relieve symptoms and prevent chance of symptoms arising on longtime by decreasing the sensitivity of air ways to triggers. Corticosteroids are usually used.
If asthma symptoms aren’t in control or feel of breathless, heavy cough, tightness in chest during sleep or for seasonal use these inhalers are prescribed.
Types
Metered dose inhalers
Breath actuated inhalers
Dry powder inhalers
Drugs usually use 💊
Ciclesonide
Beclomethasone
Budesonide
Fluticasone
Long- acting bronchodilators
These are prescribed with preventor inhaler. They keep air way open by relaxing surrounding muscles but don’t relieve asthma symptoms.
Types
LABAs (long acting Beta 2 agonist) - Usually prescribed for asthma
LAMAs (long acting muscarinic antagonist) - Usually prescribed for COPD
Theophylline (tablet or a capsule)
Drugs usually use💊
Formoterol
Salmeterol
Combination Inhalers
Combination of different kinds of drugs in a one inhaler.
Long-acting reliever and a corticosteroid preventer.
Long acting reliever medicine gives ongoing relief from symptoms such as breathlessness and a tight chest.
Preventer medicine helps prevent inflammation in your airways over the long term.
Prescribed when Asthma symptoms are not controlled by given usual medication.
Build protection for symptoms overtime.
Drugs usually use💊
Budesonide and Formoterol
Fluticasone and Salmeterol
Spacers
Tube-like devices that attach to inhalers and help you get the best from your medicine. Easier to get the right amount of medicine straight to your lungs. Reduce the risk of side effects from your medicine.
D. L. E. Senavirathna
References
https://www.asthma.org.uk/advice/inhalers-medicines-treatments/inhalers-and-spacers/
https://kidshealth.org/en/teens/inhaler.html#:~:text=An%20inhaler%20is%20a%20device,to%20open%20up%20narrowed%20airways.
Good article👏