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How to Use a Soft Mist Inhaler
A soft mist inhaler is a handheld device for taking medicine that you breathe (inhale) into your lungs.
The device changes a liquid medicine into a mist that can be inhaled.
You may need a soft mist inhaler if you have a disease that causes your breathing tubes to narrow (bronchospasm).
Using a soft mist inhaler helps prevent bronchospasm and keeps your airway open. A soft mist inhaler may be part of your long-term treatment for asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
The usual dosage is two inhalations every day.
A recent development in inhaler technology has been the development of low-velocity sprays known as soft mist inhalers.
These devices represent a new class of multidose inhaler devices and contain liquid formulations similar to those in nebulizers.
A variety of principles are utilized, including forcing liquid under pressure through a nozzle array, ultrasonics, vibrating meshes, and several novel approaches, such as condensation of vapors to form particle dispersions.
Many of these devices are able to achieve extremely high lung deposition (>50% of the dose), and they are capable of delivering drugs to the deepest parts of the lungs.
This may allow them to play a major future role in inhalation therapy, particularly in situations in which precise aerosol targeting is needed.
What are the risks?
- If you do not use your inhaler correctly, medicine might not reach your lungs to help you breathe.
- The medicine in the inhaler can cause side effects, such as:
- Chest tightness or difficulty breathing.
- Eye redness, eye pain, or vision changes.
- Difficulty passing urine.
- Dry mouth.
- Sore throat.
- Cough.
- Headache.
- Sinus congestion (sinusitis).
Supplies needed:
- Inhaler. The medicine that you will need comes in the inhaler. Each device contains the amount of medicine needed for 60 uses (30 daily doses of 2 inhalations).
How to use a soft mist inhaler
Using an inhaler for the first time
- Remove the clear base of the inhaler by pressing the safety catch on the cap with your thumb and pulling off the clear base with your other hand.
- On the label, write down the date that will be three months from now. This is the date you should throw away the inhaler.
- Place the medicine cartridge that comes with the inhaler into the base of the inhaler. Press the cartridge on a flat surface to click it into place. Click the clear plastic base back into place over the cartridge.
- Turn the clear base in the direction of the arrows on the label until you hear a click.
- Open the cap on top of the inhaler. It should snap open all the way to show you the mouthpiece.
- Prepare (prime) the inhaler for use. To do this, point the inhaler toward the ground and press on the dose-release button below the mouthpiece. You should see the release of some mist. Be careful not to get any mist into your eyes. If you do not see mist, turn the base, open the cap, and prime the inhaler again until you see the mist. If you still do not see the mist, return the inhaler to your pharmacist for help.
Taking an inhaled dose
- Hold the inhaler upright.
- Use your thumb and pointer finger to turn the base of the inhaler until you hear a click. This means the dose chamber is ready to deliver the medicine.
- Open the cap until you hear a click.
- Hold the inhaler in one hand with your pointer finger over the dose-release button.
- Turn your head away from the inhaler and breathe out slowly.
- Close your lips around the mouthpiece.
- Point the inhaler toward the back of your mouth.
- Press the dose-release button while taking a slow, deep breath through your mouth.
- Hold your breath for 10 seconds, or as long as you can.
- Turn your head away from the inhaler and breath out slowly through pursed lips.
- Take a second inhalation, if your health care provider told you to. Do not take extra doses if you do not feel the mist as you inhale.
Using your inhaler
- Use your soft mist inhaler only as told by your health care provider.
- Do inhalations at about the same time each day.
- If you have not used your inhaler for more than 3 days, release a mist dose toward the ground before using.
- If you have not used your inhaler for more than 21 days, open the cap, turn the base, and prime your inhaler until you see mist. Repeat these steps three more times before using the inhaler.
Caring for your inhaler
- Store your soft mist inhaler at room temperature and keep it out of reach of children.
- Clean the mouthpiece of your inhaler with a damp, clean, cloth once every week.
Follow these instructions at home:
General instructions
- Check the indicator on the inhaler to keep track of your doses. When the indicator is in the red zone, you have 7 days left. Get a refill at this time. The inhaler will lock when it is empty.
- Throw away your inhaler if you have not used it in more than 30 days.
- Do not use any products that contain nicotine or tobacco, such as cigarettes and e-cigarettes. If you need help quitting, ask your health care provider.
- Tell your provider about:
- All your medical conditions. Use soft mist medicine with caution if you have glaucoma, an enlarged prostate, or kidney disease.
- If you are or may become pregnant.
- All medicines you take. Some medicines can affect (interact with) the medicines in your inhaler.
- Keep all follow-up visits as told by your health care provider. This is important.
History of soft mist inhaler
For the past 50 years, the pressurized metered-dose inhaler (pMDI) and the nebulizer have been the primary means of delivering inhaled drugs to patients with asthma and COPD.
These devices can be used effectively, but are inefficient and may be difficult or cumbersome to use.
Some of the limitations of these standard inhaler devices are accentuated in patients with COPD, especially if they are elderly or have severe disease.
Standard pMDIs at best deposit 10%–15% of the delivered dose in the lungs and most of the inhaled dose is deposited in the oropharynx.
A recent development in inhaler technology has been the development of low-velocity sprays known as soft mist inhalers.
These devices represent a new class of multidose inhaler devices and contain liquid formulations similar to those in nebulizers.
A recent development in inhaler technology has been the development of low-velocity sprays known as soft mist inhalers. These devices represent a new class of multidose inhaler devices and contain liquid formulations similar to those in nebulizers.
A variety of principles are utilized, including forcing liquid under pressure through a nozzle array, ultrasonics, vibrating meshes, and several novel approaches, such as condensation of vapors to form particle dispersions.
Many of these devices are able to achieve extremely high lung deposition (>50% of the dose), and they are capable of delivering drugs to the deepest parts of the lungs. This may allow them to play a major future role in inhalation therapy, particularly in situations in which precise aerosol targeting is needed.
Summary
- A soft mist inhaler is a treatment for COPD or asthma.
- You may have to take two inhalations each day on a long-term basis to prevent bronchospasm.
- Follow instructions carefully in order to use your inhaler properly.
- Common side effects include throat or sinus infection, dry mouth, cough, and headache.
- Get help right away if you have an allergic reaction, sudden eye pain, or changes in vision.
