Inhaler proper usage
My doctors have me on 3 different inhalers at semi prescribed times. Example one is 2 times a day another is once daily, and last one is 3 times daily. Since I live in a rural area and small town where the pharmacy showed me how to load them and how to place in mouth to inhale med and he told me that I could take all of them at once if I wanted as each was a different chemical mixture. But my question is when and if to use my albutiral rescue inhaler and how do I tell if I really need to use?. Sorry just was diagnosed in Aug. Last year with beginning COPD but in Jan was admitted to hospital with double pneumonia and now a pulmonologist says it is COVID lung. I am confused
Hi
, I hear how overwhelming it is to know which medicine to take when, especially when you are on more than a few! We have an article on proper inhaler usage here: https://copd.net/living/inhalers-proper-use In regards to your question though, we cannot offer specific medical advice over the internet,(for your safety!) so I would recommend speaking with your personal physician or the pharmacist next time you see them so they can help determine when the right time if for you to take your rescue inhaler. All the best, Sam S. (team member). I've been using Inspiolto Respimat for a few months and it seems to be helping. I'm wondering about the number of puffs left in the cartridge when it reaches zero in the "red" area. I've been assuming the inhaler is now empty but I can see there are still so many puffs left in the cartridge. I was guessing that maybe extra puffs are loaded to cover priming or user error?
Can we safely use the inhaler until unable to turn any more and be confident that we're getting the right dose or should we discard? Asking because they're so expensive and I don't want to waste any.
Hi Terry - I hear you! When the 'counter' is in the red zone and reading 'zero', I would also say that is the right time to stop using the inhaler. That is what I do, too. As my colleague,, has said - you can always ask your physician, pharmacist or, even reach out to the pharmaceutical house.
What do you think?
Leon (site moderator)Okay, thanks, I'll do that
Hi
! So sorry to hear that you have gone through this. My rule of thumb when using my rescue inhaler is when I'm more short of breath than usual, when wheezing, or when my pulsox is running low. I will also use it before any exercise or extra walking that I might do. Sometimes the weather plays a role in it also if it's a bad allergy day, humid day, or cold outside, so I will use it before going out in the bad weather. I hope this helps! Please message me or respond here if you have any more questions. Best, Jackie (Moderator)
