Disadvantages Of Inhalers

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Types of inhalers in pulmonary disease By Liji Thomas, MD Inhalers are handheld devices used to deliver medication to the respiratory tract in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma. They are used both for the prevention and treatment of exacerbations of these chronic conditions. They offer the benefit of avoiding systemic exposure to drugs, while ensuring that the drugs go directly to where they are needed (i.e. the lungs). The first such device was sold in 1948, by Abbott Laboratories, but it was not until 1955 that the pressured metered dose inhaler (pMDI) was invented. Its biggest advantage was its small footprint and the ease with which accurately measured doses of the drug could be delivered repeatedly. Today a variety…show more content…
The former requires the patient to push a button as soon as inspiration begins, which may be difficult especially with elderly, arthritic and frail patients. bMDIs are automatically activated upon breathing in, but the volume of inspiration must be above a critical minimum (typically 30 mL/second) for this to occur. The MDIs are cheaper than most other devices. The disadvantage of a pMDI is the need to learn a specific technique of breathing involving several steps. To make it easier, and leave out one step in the routine, a spacer device is often recommended for use along with the pMDI. This is a holding chamber for the drug so that the breath does not have to be coordinated so accurately. However, it needs to be kept clean to ensure proper drug delivery. Non-electrostatic spacers can be used to help with this issue. Dry powder…show more content…
They are suitable for all patients who have peak inspiratory flow (PIF) rates above the device minimum. This requirement rules out their use in some patients who are very frail or have severe disease, and they may be ineffective if the time to PIF is too long. They may be designed to offer a single or multiple doses. However, marketing by different companies has led to the emergence of an array of physical types of DPI, such as those that comprise a single device and those that require the insertion of a capsule. This may lead to patient confusion and wrong use, with inadequate drug delivery. Nebulizers These are the first handheld devices to come on the market, using compressed air or oxygen, or ultrasound waves, to break up and disperse drug particles into an aerosol, which can be inhaled deep into the lungs via a mask or a mouthpiece. They are today restricted in their use to those who cannot use inhalers properly for any reason. They are much larger, more expensive, and need more maintenance to prevent the growth of bacteria and other microbes. Nebulization also takes much longer to act, requiring drug delivery up to 15 minutes. However, they are just as effective as pMDIs. Soft-mist
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