Tuesday, July 14, 2015

Types of different inhalers

I did some refreshing on the types of inhalers as well as common problems and advantages of each type of inhaler 

Metered Dose Inhaler
·         First introduced in 1956
·         Developed with a small particle size (<5 microns) and able to get to lower airways with minimal systemic effects
o    Lung distribution of 50-60% in new HFA formulation
·         Medication is contained in a liquefied compressed gas that maintains a certain pressure.
·         Used to use CDC propellants, now use HFA propellants
o    New HFA propellant is more polar which has limited solubility with a lot of compounds
·         Only two drugs with MDI HFA formulations: albuterol and beclomethasone dipropionate
·         Two types of MDI
o    Breath-actuated inhalers- automatically release a spray of medication with an inhalation (pirbuterol)
o    Press and breathe inhalers- requires push of button to release medication (albuterol)
·         Common errors in the press and breathe MDI
o    Forget to remove the cap or shake the inhaler
o    Use the inhaler upside down
o    Press down before inhalation
o    Press down after inhalation complete
o    Don’t hold breath after inhalation
Dry Powder Inhaler
·         Does not contain a propellant, all are currently breath-actuated
·         Requires force of inhalation to get medication into the lungs
o    Problematic especially during asthma attacks or with young children
·         Must inhale all medication in one or two breathes and can be difficult to judge
·         Over 17 varieties
o    Single-dose models- load capsule into the reservoir and inhale the dose
o    Multi-dose model- have a reservoir of powder which needs to held upright before loading a dose for inhalation
·         Common errors of inhalers
o    Failure to remove cover
o    Incorrect dose loading
o    Failure to pierce capsule
o    Breathing out of device
o    Blocking inhalation vents
o    Poor seal around the mouthpiece
o    Not inhaling with enough speed or velocity
o    Inhaling through the nose
Respimat Soft Mist Inhaler
·         Use liquid formulation like a nebulizer but in a multi-dose device
·         Inhaler is powered via compressed spring and there is no propellant in the inhaler
·         Lower spray velocity and long duration versus MDI
o    Higher lung deposition
o    Lower doses without decreasing efficacy
·         Contains higher fraction of fine particle than most MDIs or DPIs
·         Common errors
o    Failure to prime or load dose
o    No exhalation
o    Inhalation issues: firing device before inhalation, firing device after inhalation, discontinuing inhalation early, inhaling too quickly
o    Don’t hold breath
o    Block vents with mouthpiece
Nebulizer
·         Electric or battery powered machine that turns liquid medication into a mist
·         Allows for various medications to be administered: anticholinergics, antibiotics, and mucolytics are some examples
·         Don’t require coordination of breaths and release of medication
·         Disadvantages:
o    Large devices
o    Treatments take a long time (can be about 15 minutes)
o    Requires extensive cleaning to prevent an infection
o    Requires a power source
o    Typically not portable


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