What it means
Inhalers deliver drugs straight to the airways, which works fast and lowers side effects in the rest of the body. A metered-dose inhaler (MDI) sprays a mist and works best with a spacer; a dry-powder inhaler (DPI) needs a quick, deep breath; a soft-mist inhaler releases a slow mist. They carry bronchodilatorbrong-koh-DY-lay-terA drug that relaxes the muscles around the airways so they open wider.bronch/o airwaydilat widen-or one that doesFull entry , inhaled steroids or both.
For the nurse
Watch the client use it and correct the technique. For an MDI: shake, breathe out, seal lips on the mouthpiece or spacer, press while breathing in slowly, hold the breath about 10 seconds, and wait a minute between puffs. Rinse the mouth after an inhaled steroid to prevent thrush.
At a glance
| Abbreviations | MDI (metered-dose inhaler); DPI (dry-powder inhaler) |
|---|---|
| Spanish | inhalador |
| Also written | inhalers |
Related terms
COPD
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a long-term lung disease that makes it hard to move air out of the lungs.
inhalation
Breathing in; also, a way of giving a drug as a mist or powder that is breathed into the lungs.
asthma
A long-term lung disease in which the airways become inflamed and narrow from time to time.
bronchodilator
A drug that relaxes the muscles around the airways so they open wider.
nebulizer
A machine that turns liquid drug into a fine mist that a person breathes in through a mouthpiece or mask.