Using your inhalers – Complete Inhaler Guide

The term “inhaler” describes self-contained devices that are used to generate aerosolized drug for a single inhalation. There are 2 types of inhalers — pressurized metered-dose inhalers (pMDIs) and dry powder inhalers (DPIs). Both types of inhalers are very convenient and may be carried around in your purse or pocket and used anywhere.

List of aerosol drugs are anticholinergics, beta-2 agonists (we call these 2 groups SABAs and LABAs), anticholoinergic/beta-2 agonist combinations, inhaled corticosteroids, beta-2 agonist/inhaled corticosteroid combinations, and other drugs. You should always use your inhaler device and drug as prescribed by your doctor.

What are pMDIs?
The first pressurized metered-dose inhaler (pMDI) was developed way back in 1955 by Dr. George Maison. He came up with the idea for the device as a result of a request by his teenage asthmatic daughter for a better way to take her breathing treatment. A pMDI is designed to deliver a precise (metered) amount (dose) of medication in a fine mist (an aerosol) that can be inhaled directly into the lungs (airways) for treatment of a respiratory disease, such as your asthma or COPD.

How do pMDIs work? 

The pMDI is now considered one of the most popular ways to deliver aerosol medication. Regardless of manufacturer or the medication included, the basic components of the pMDI include the canister, propellants, drug (also called formulary), metering valve, and actuator (or Boot), and sometimes a dose counter.

What are DPIs?
A dry-powder inhaler (DPI) is another type of portable device that can be used to deliver aerosol medications to the lungs. DPIs are a little different from small-volume nebulizers (SVNs) and pressurized metered-dose inhalers (pMDIs). DPIs deliver the medication to the lungs as a very fine powder. The fine powder is drawn from the DPI when you take a fast, deep breath through the DPI.

Different Types of Dry Powder Inhalers:

Currently, there are 3 types of dry-powder inhalers: single-dose DPIs, multiple unit-dose DPIs, and multiple dose DPIs.