Inhalers

Asthma is a disease that causes airways to swell and lowers the amount of air that is able to get to the lungs. The symptoms of asthma include chest tightness, shortness of breath, wheezing, and coughing. It can be triggered by many different things such as dust and other allergens, exercise, and cold weather. Most patients with asthma are prescribed an albuterol inhaler. This is a rescue inhaler and is used when you have asthma symptoms. Patients are told to take 2 puffs every 4-6 hours as needed for shortness of breath or wheezing. It is important to wait 1 minute between the 2 puffs to give the medicine a chance to work. It opens up the airways at the top of the lungs so that the second puff can get deeper into the lungs and work better. Albuterol should start to work in 8-10 minutes after use. The goal is to not have to use your albuterol inhaler more than 2 times in a week.

There is a second type of inhaler that is commonly prescribed for asthma. This is a maintenance or controller inhaler. Examples of this type are Symbicort and Advair. These inhalers are used to relax the muscle in the airways and block swelling. They are supposed to be taken every day even if you are not feeling the symptoms of your asthma. It is important to remember to rinse your mouth out with water (do not swallow the water) after each time you use the inhaler. This is to prevent you from getting an infection in the mouth and throat called thrush.

The goal of these inhalers is to keep the number of symptoms during the day to less than 2 times per week. The number of times your asthma wakes you up at night should be less than 2 time in a month. Talk to your doctor if you are having asthma more often.