Did you know that 90% of people have poor inhaler technique?
Not using your inhaler properly can lead to poor disease control, increased risk of exacerbation and increased adverse effects.
Preventer inhalers will help you avoid an asthma attack or COPD flare-up, which will help you stay well and out of hospital.
Use your inhalers as prescribed by your healthcare professional, and only order inhalers when needed.
If you need to come into hospital, please bring your medicines and inhalers with you.
How do I use my inhalers?
Using the correct inhaler technique every time you use your inhalers is important.
e.g. If you use your preventer/maintenance inhaler correctly you will be less likely to need your reliever/rescue inhaler to deal with your symptoms.
Choose your inhaler on the next page. Scan the QR code and watch a short video to show how to use your inhaler correctly.
Spacers
If you have a pressurised metered dose inhaler (pMDI) have you got a spacer?
Using a spacer helps get the right amount of medicine to your lungs where it is needed, reducing side effects and medicine waste. Scan the QR code to the right and watch the short video to see how to use a pMDI with a spacer using ‘tidal’ or ‘multiple breath’ technique.
How to dispose of your inhalers and reduce your carbon footprint
The propellants used in some inhalers are powerful greenhouse gasses that contribute to climate change. All inhalers should be returned to a pharmacy for safe disposal. At Gateshead Health we have designated drop off bins at the front entrance of A+E, outpatient pharmacy, on respiratory wards 9 and 10 or alternatively give your inhalers to your consultant or specialist nurse in clinic.
Inhalers should not be put in household waste bins.
Landfill disposal is harmful to the environment both in material waste and in greenhouse gas emissions, as residual gases from inhaler canisters are released into the atmosphere. Plastics from inhalers cannot be recycled using domestic recycling schemes. Returned inhalers will be incinerated which will destroy the greenhouse gasses and prevent inhaler plastics from going to landfill.
If every inhaler user in the UK returned all their aerosol inhalers for 1 year, this could save 512,330 tonnes of CO2, which is equivalent to a VW Golf being driven around the world 88,606 times.
Any Questions?
If you have any concerns about your inhalers please contact your doctor, nurse, pharmacist or the respiratory team on 0191 445 6035.
- Find your Inhaler 2. Click the link 3. Watch the Video
| Accuhaler e.g. Flixotide, Seretide, Serevent and Ventolin | How to use an Accuhaler inhaler | Autohaler e.g. Airomir, Qvar | How to use an Autohaler inhaler |
| Breezhaler e.g. Seebri, Ultibro, Atectura, Enerzair | How to use a Breezhaler inhaler | Easi-Breathe Inhaler e.g. Salamol and Qvar | How to use an Easi-breathe inhaler |
| Easyhaler e.g. Salbutamol, Beclometasone, Budesonide | How to use an Easyhaler inhaler | Ellipta Inhaler e.g. Anoro, Incruse, Relvar and Trelegy | How to use an Ellipta inhaler |
| Genuair e.g. Eklira and Duaklir | How to use a Genuair inhaler | Handihaler e.g. Tiotropium | How to use a HandiHaler inhaler |
| Nexthaler e.g.Fostair and Trimbow | How to use a NEXThaler inhaler | Pressurised Metered-Dose Inhaler (pMDI) e.g. Salbutamol, Fostair, Clenil, Qvar, Luforbec and Trimbow, | How to use a pMDI inhaler |
| Respimat Inhaler e.g. Tiotropium, Spiolto | How to use a Respimat inhaler | Spiromax e.g. Duoresp | How to use a Spiromax inhaler |
| Turbohaler e.g. Terbutaline, Formoterol, Budesonide and Symbicort | How to use a Turbohaler inhaler | Zonda e.g. Braltus | How to use a Zonda inhaler |