Purpose of Cleaning your Inhaler | Use Inhalers

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Purpose of Cleaning your Inhaler

Each inhaler has its own special cleaning instructions to prevent build-up and blockage. MDI inhalers need special care in order to make sure that they work properly and deliver the correct amount of medicine.

Instructions

Proventil HFA® (MDI)

Step 1: To clean, remove the canister and mouthpiece cap. Wash the mouthpiece through the top and bottom with warm running water for 30 seconds at least once a week

Step 2: To dry, shake off excess water and let the mouthpiece air dry thoroughly, such as overnight. When the mouthpiece is dry, replace the canister and the mouthpiece cap. Blockage from medication buildup is more likely to occur if the mouthpiece is not allowed to air dry thoroughly.

Step 3: If you need to use your inhaler before it is completely dry, shake off excess water, replace the canister, and test spray twice into the air, away from your face, to remove most of the water remaining in the mouthpiece. Then take your dose as prescribed. After such use, rewash and air dry thoroughly as described in Steps 1 and 2.

Source: http://www.merck.com/product/usa/pi_circulars/p/proventil_hfa/proventil_hfa_ppi.pdf

ProAir HFA® (MDI)

It is very important to keep the plastic actuator clean so the medicine will not build-up and block the spray Do not try to clean the metal canister or let it get wet. The inhaler may stop spraying if it is not cleaned correctly.

If you have more than 1 PROAIR HFA inhaler, wash each device at separate times to prevent putting the wrong canister together with thewrong plastic actuator. This way you can be sure you will always know the correct number of remaining doses of PROAIR HFA.

Wash the actuator at least 1 time each week as follows:

Step 1: Take the canister out of the actuator, and take the cap off the mouthpiece

Step 2: Hold the actuator under the faucet and run warm water through it for about 30 seconds

Step 3: Turn the actuator upside down and run warm water through the mouthpiece for about 30 seconds

Step 4: Shake off as much water from the actuator as you can. Look into the mouthpiece to make sure any medicine build-up has been completely washed away. If there is any build-up, repeat the washing instructions

Step 5: Let the actuator air-dry completely, such as overnight

Step 6: When the actuator is dry, put the canister in the actuator and make sure it fits firmly. Shake the inhaler well and spray it twice into the air away from your face. Put the cap back on the mouthpiece.

Step 7: If you need to use your inhaler before the actuator is completely dry:

Source: http://www.proairhfa.com/library/docs/ProAirDoseCounter-Prescribing-Information-PA0512G-PE2557.pdf

Ventolin HFA® (MDI)

It is very important to keep the plastic actuator clean so the medicine will not build-up and block the spray. Do not try to clean the metal canister or let it get wet. The inhaler may stop spraying if it is not cleaned correctly. Wash the actuator at least once a week as follows:

Step 1: Take the canister out of the actuator, and take the cap off the mouthpiece. The strap on the cap will stay attached to the actuator

Step 2: Hold the actuator under the faucet and run warm water through it for about 30 seconds

Step 3: Turn the actuator upside down and run warm water through the mouthpiece for about 30 seconds

Step 4: Shake off as much water from the actuator as you can. Look into the mouthpiece to make sure any medicine build-up has been completely washed away. If there is any build-up, repeat Steps 2 and 3.

Step 5: Let the actuator air-dry completely, such as overnight

Step 6: When the actuator is dry, put the canister in the actuator and make sure it fits firmly. Shake the inhaler well and spray it once into the air away from your face. (The counter will count down by 1 number.) Put the cap back on the mouthpiece

Step 7: If you need to use your inhaler before the actuator is completely dry:

Source: http://us.gsk.com/products/assets/us_ventolin_hfa.pdf#page=19

Xopenex HFA® (MDI)

To ensure proper dosing and prevent actuator or if ice blockage, wash the actuator in warm water and air-dry thoroughly at least once a week.

Step 1: To clean the actuator:

Step 2: When the actuator is dry, replace the canister and the mouthpiece cap

Step 3: Make sure the canister is fully and ﬁrmly inserted into the actuator

Step 4: If your actuator becomes blocked, it means that little or no medicine is coming out of the mouthpiece. Wash your actuator and air-dry completely as described above

Step 5: If you need to use your inhaler before the plastic actuator is completely dry:

Source: http://www.xopenex.com/files/XOPENEX-HFA-Prescribing-Information.pdf

Atrovent HFA® (MDI

Keep the mouthpiece clean. At least once a week, wash the mouthpiece, shake it to remove excess water and let it air dry all the way

Step 1: Remove and set aside the canister and dust cap from the mouthpiece

Step 2: Wash the mouthpiece through the top and bottom with warm running water for at least 30 seconds. Do not use anything other than water to wash the mouthpiece

Step 3: Dry the mouthpiece by shaking off the excess water and allow it to air dry all the way

Step 4: When the mouthpiece is dry, replace the canister. Make sure the canister is fully and firmly inserted into the mouthpiece

Step 5: Replace the green protective dust cap

Source: http://www.drugs.com/pro/atrovent-hfa.html

QVAR® (MDI)

The mouthpiece of your inhaler should be cleaned weekly with a clean, dry tissue or cloth. Do not wash or put any part of your inhaler in water.

Source: http://www.qvar.com/library/docs/prescribing-information.pdf

Alvesco® (MDI)

Step 1: Clean the mouthpiece weekly with a clean dry tissue, both inside and out

Step 2: Wipe over the front of the small hole where the medicine comes out with a dry folded tissue

Step 3: Do not wash or put any part of your ALVESCO Inhalation Aerosol unit in water or any other liquids

Source: http://www.alvesco.us/AlvescoPI.pdf

Flovent HFA® (MDI)

Clean the inhaler at least once a week after your evening dose. It is important to keep the canister and plastic actuator clean so the medicine will not build-up and block the spray.

Step 1: Take the cap off the mouthpiece. The strap on the cap will stay attached to the actuator. Do not take the canister out of the plastic actuator

Step 2: Use a clean cotton swab dampened with water to clean the small circular opening where the medicine sprays out of the canister. Gently twist the swab in a circular motion to take off any medicine. Repeat with a new swab dampened with water to take off any medicine still at the opening

Step 3: Wipe the inside of the mouthpiece with a clean tissue dampened with water. Let the actuator air dry overnight

Step 4: Put the cap back on the mouthpiece after the actuator has dried

Source: http://us.gsk.com/products/assets/us_flovent_hfa.pdf

Advair HFA (MDI)

Step 1: Take the cap off the mouthpiece. The strap on the cap will stay attached to the actuator. Do not take the canister out of the plastic actuator

Step 2: Use a dry cotton swab to clean the small circular opening where the medicine sprays out of the canister. Carefully twist the swab in a circular motion to take off any medicine

Step 3: Wipe the inside of the mouthpiece with a clean tissue dampened with water. Let the actuator air-dry overnight

Step 4: Put the cap back on the mouthpiece after the actuator has dried

Source: 1.http://us.gsk.com/products/assets/us_advair_hfa.pdf, 2. http://www.advair.com/asthma/about-advair/if-you-are-taking-advair/using-advair-hfa.html

Symbicort HFA (MDI)

Clean the white mouthpiece of your Symbicort inhaler every 7 days. To clean the mouthpiece:

Step 2: Wipe the inside and outside of the white mouthpiece opening with a clean, dry cloth

Step 3: Replace the mouthpiece cover

Step 4: Do not put the Symbicort inhaler into water

Step 5: Do not try to take apart your Symbicort inhaler

Source: http://www1.astrazeneca-us.com/pi/symbicort.pdf

Azmacort® (MDI)

Your Azmacort Inhalation Aerosol MUST be cleaned in lukewarm water only once each day to avoid build-up of medication particles in the inhaler that can block the puff of medication and interfere with proper operation. The use of soap, detergents, or disinfectants is unnecessary.

IMPORTANT: Remove metal canister from inhaler. Pull canister straight out from inhaler and place it aside. Canister must be removed for proper cleaning of inhaler. Pull apart remaining two plastic parts of inhaler, remove mouthpiece cap, and gently wash in lukewarm water. Dry thoroughly. Snap the two plastic parts of the inhaler back together; push closed. Replace mouthpiece cap. Reinsert metal canister by gently turning while inserting. The canister should fit snugly without falling out.

Source: http://www.drugs.com/pro/azmacort.html