Health Centres - Asthma - the importance of taking your medication
The most important way to control your asthma is by the carefully planned use of modern treatments. There are some excellent treatments available to help you get full control of your condition.
The whole aim of managing asthma is to put you in control of your condition rather than letting the asthma control you.
As well as taking your asthma medicines regularly, you can help yourself by avoiding situations and triggers that bring on your symptoms.
The different formulations of medicines
Asthma medications are available as either inhalers or tablets.
There are three mains groups of inhalers:
- aerosol inhalers, also called metered dose inhalers (MDIs) or puffers
Many aerosol and breath-actuated inhalers contain a type of propellant called CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons). These are gradually being replaced with CFC-free propellants.
They are easier to use and more effective if used with a spacer. A spacer is a large plastic container, usually in two halves that click together. At one end there is a mouthpiece and at the other a hole for the aerosol inhaler to fit in. There are several different brands of spacer that fit different inhalers. These are available on prescription and include:
- Volumatic
An aerosol inhaler used with a spacer is likely to get more medicine into your lungs than using just an inhaler on its own. The spacer traps the medicine inside until you breathe in so you do not have to worry about pressing the inhaler and breathing in at the same time.
Breath-actuated inhalers
Dry powder inhalers
Some devices require loading with capsules, which may be susceptible to moisture, so it is important to store them properly away from humid environments, such as bathrooms or kitchens. Other dry powder inhalers will have the medication either in discs or in the device itself. Most dry powder inhalers are small, portable devices; some contain multiple doses with a method of monitoring the number of doses taken and a way to calculate how many doses remain in the device.
Tablets
For example, new preventer medicines are now available in tablet form and if your asthma gets particularly bad your doctor may give you a short course of steroid tablets.
Why you may be given an inhaler and/or tablets
The best way to control your asthma is to work in close partnership with your doctor or asthma nurse. Together, you will be able to decide whether you are getting the best treatment and what medicine is the most suitable for you. It is important that you can use your inhaler easily and correctly, particularly if you have a severe attack of breathlessness.
How to use your pressurised aerosol inhaler correctly
- Sit up straight or stand when using your inhaler.
- breath-actuated inhalers
- dry powder inhalers.
- Nebuhaler
- Fisonair
- Aerochamber.
Dry powder inhalers deliver the asthma medication in the form of a dry powder, eg Spinhaler, Rotahaler, Turbohaler, and Accuhaler.
Most people with asthma will take their treatment through an inhaler device, but there are additional medications that can be given in tablet form.
Your doctor or nurse will decide on the most appropriate form of treatment for you and your asthma. The factors that will affect this decision will include the type and severity of your symptoms as well as whether you are receiving treatment for other conditions and your ability to take the treatment prescribed.
- Lift your chin up to open the airways.
- Remove the protective cap on the mouthpiece and shake the inhaler to mix the contents (this mixes the medication with the liquid propellant).
- Breathe out gently as far as you comfortably can.
- Put the inhaler mouthpiece in your mouth, keeping your tongue flat and closing your lips firmly around it, but do not bite it.
- As you begin to breathe in slowly and deeply, press down on the canister inside the inhaler at the same time to release one puff of medication.
- Continue to breathe in slowly for 5-10 seconds.
- Take the inhaler out of your mouth and hold your breath for 10 seconds or as long as possible, then breathe out slowly.
- If more than one puff is prescribed, wait for about 30 seconds, before repeating.
- Replace the protective cap on the mouthpiece of the inhaler.
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