DEVICES HELP DELIVER MEDICATIONS OR MONITOR YOUR ASTHMA1–3
Many asthma medications are taken using an inhalation
delivery device, which is a device that delivers
medication to your lungs.1,2
There
are also devices that monitor how well controlled
your asthma is either in the comfort of your home or
at the clinic.3,4
INHALATION DELIVERY DEVICES
Inhalation delivery devices work by dispersing your asthma medication like an aerosol to help you inhale it and reach your lungs.2
Not all medications are available in the same delivery device so your doctor will prescribe you the medication and device that’s best for you.3
It’s important that you know how to use your
inhalation delivery device correctly as improper use
can prevent you from getting the correct dose of
medication. You should ask your doctor to
demonstrate how to properly use the
device.2
Asthma inhalers are a portable, hand-held
inhalation delivery device that are
available in two forms, pMDI
(pressurised metered-dose inhaler) and
DPI (dry powder inhaler).1,4
The right inhaler is different for
everyone so your doctor will help you
choose the inhaler device that suits you
best.4
pMDI
(pressurised metered-dose inhaler)
DPI
(dry powder inhaler)
Medication type
pMDI
(pressurised metered-dose inhaler)
Delivers liquid medication1
DPI
(dry powder inhaler)
Delivers powder medication1,2
No. of doses
pMDI
(pressurised metered-dose inhaler)
Releases single dose only2
DPI
(dry powder inhaler)
Releases single or multiple doses2
How to use
pMDI
(pressurised metered-dose inhaler)
Breathe slow
and deep
when
pressing the
canister to
release the
medication2,4
DPI
(dry powder inhaler)
Breathe in strong and fast to release the medication1,4
Size
pMDI
(pressurised metered-dose inhaler)
Handheld/portable4
DPI
(dry powder inhaler)
Handheld/portable4
Built-in dose counter
pMDI
(pressurised metered-dose inhaler)
Some4
DPI
(dry powder inhaler)
All4
Carbon footprint per puff
pMDI
(pressurised metered-dose inhaler)
~10–35 kg CO2e5
DPI
(dry powder inhaler)
<1 kg CO 2e5
pMDI
(pressurised metered-dose inhaler)
DPI
(dry powder inhaler)
Medication type
pMDI
(pressurised metered-dose inhaler)
Delivers liquid medication1
DPI
(dry powder inhaler)
Delivers powder medication1,2
No. of doses
pMDI
(pressurised metered-dose inhaler)
Releases single dose only2
DPI
(dry powder inhaler)
Releases single or multiple doses2
How to use
pMDI
(pressurised metered-dose inhaler)
Breathe slow
and deep
when
pressing the
canister to
release the
medication2,4
DPI
(dry powder inhaler)
Breathe in strong and fast to release the medication1,4
Size
pMDI
(pressurised metered-dose inhaler)
Handheld/portable4
DPI
(dry powder inhaler)
Handheld/portable4
Built-in dose counter
pMDI
(pressurised metered-dose inhaler)
Some4
DPI
(dry powder inhaler)
All4
Carbon footprint per puff
pMDI
(pressurised metered-dose inhaler)
~10–35 kg CO2e5
DPI
(dry powder inhaler)
<1 kg CO 2e5
Spacers
are
accessory
devices
for
pMDIs
to
help
you
inhale
your
medication
so
it
reaches
your
lower
airways
–
where
it’s
supposed
to
go –
instead
of
getting
stuck
in
your
throat.1,2
It
comes
in
the
form
of a
tube
that
connects
to
your
pMDI
at
one
end
to
‘spray’
the
asthma
medication
and
a
mouthpiece
at
the
other
end
to
breathe
in.2
If
you’re
having
trouble
getting
your
medication
to
your
airways
with
a
pMDI,
your
doctor
may
suggest
using
a
spacer.1
A nebuliser is a machine that sprays liquid asthma medication as a fine mist, which you then inhale through a mouthpiece or mask. It’s often used by young children, the elderly or people who can’t use a pMDI or DPI.1,2
MONITORING DEVICES
Monitoring your asthma regularly is an important part of controlling your asthma, and devices such as spirometry and peak flow meters can help with that.3
Spirometry
is a
breathing
test
used
by
your
doctor
to
check
how
well
your
lungs
are
working.
It
measures
how
much
air
you
can
breathe
in
and
out
of
your
lungs,
and
how
fast
you
can
blow
air
out.6
This
helps
your
doctor
check
if
your
asthma
is
getting
better
or
worse
and
if
your
asthma
medications
are
helping
you.
Your
doctor
may
also
have
used
spirometry
when
they
first
diagnosed
you
with
asthma.6
Peak
flow
meters
can
be
used
as
an
alternative
to
spirometry
to
monitor
your
asthma.3
It
works
by
blowing
into
the
device
as
hard
and
fast
as
possible
to
check
how
open
your
airways
are.7
As a
portable
device,
you
can
use
it
at
home
to
check
your
asthma,
see
how
severe
your
asthma
attacks
are
or
whether
you
need
to
talk
with
your
doctor
for
any
adjustments
to
your
asthma
treatment.7,8
It’s
important
to
use
peak
flow
meters
regularly
because
your
lungs
may
not
be
working
well
even
though
you
feel
that
your
breathing
is
fine.7
- AAAAI. Inhaled asthma medications, 2020. Available at: https://www.aaaai.org/tools-for-the-public/conditions-library/asthma/inhaled-asthma-medications. Accessed November 2022.
- Ibrahim M, et al. Med Devices (Auckl). 2015;8:131–139.
- Quirt J, et al. Allergy Asthma Clin Immunol. 2018;14(Suppl 2):50.
- Levy ML, et al. Adv Ther. 2019;36(1):2547–2557.
- NICE. Asthma inhalers and climate change (patient decision aid), 2022. Available at: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng80/resources/asthma-inhalers-and-climate-change-patient-decision-aid-pdf-6727144573. Accessed March 2023.
- AAAAI. Spirometry, 2019. Available at: https://www.aaaai.org/Tools-for-the-Public/Conditions-Library/Asthma/Spirometry. Accessed November 2022.
- AAAAI. Peak flow meter 2020. Available at: https://www.aaaai.org/Tools-for-the-Public/Conditions-Library/Asthma/Peak-Flow-Meter. Accessed November 2022.
- Antalffy T, et al. NPJ Prim Care Respir Med. 2020;30:19.
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NP-SG-ASU-WCNT-230002. April 2023.
