Check out the 6 common misunderstandings in the use of inhalation preparations. Don’t fall into these traps again!

In the treatment of respiratory diseases such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, the use of inhaled preparations is extremely critical. Doctors in clinical or outpatient clinics will encounter some patients complaining that the inhaled preparations are not effective.

However, after careful questioning, it is found that many times the problem is not with the drug itself, but rather that patients fall into some easily overlooked misunderstandings when using inhalation preparations, which affects the treatment effect.

Next, an expert from the Second Respiratory Department of Hunan Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine will talk to you about common misunderstandings in the use of inhalation preparations.

Common Misunderstandings about the Use of Inhalation Preparations

1. Failure to apply the medicine correctly

Ready to read: The sliding rod is not pushed in or the sliding rod is not pushed down.

Dubao: Directly inhaling the medicine without rotating the switch; rotating back and forth from left to right or right to left; small rotation range, incomplete medication. Randomly rotating the switch several times, even dozens of times or more, resulting in drug waste.

Xile: The medicine is sucked directly without puncturing the capsule. Some patients also drink the inhaled capsule directly.

2. Inhalation and spraying are not coordinated

Some patients do not synchronize the spraying and inhalation of the drug when using inhaled preparations. For example, when using a pressurized metered dose inhaler (pMDI), the patient does not inhale slowly and deeply while pressing the aerosol, resulting in the drug not being able to effectively reach the lungs.

3. No breath holding

If you do not hold your breath for 5-10 seconds after inhaling, the drug will be exhaled before it is fully deposited in the lungs, reducing the effective amount of drug deposited in the lungs.

4. Increase or decrease the dosage at will

Some patients reduce the dosage of medication when they feel their symptoms are relieved, or increase the dosage when their symptoms are aggravated. This is not conducive to the stable control of the disease, and may cause more frequent attacks or aggravate the adverse reactions of the drug.

5. Stopping medication too early

Stopping medication on your own after your symptoms are relieved, rather than gradually reducing the dosage until you stop taking the medication as recommended by your doctor, may result in the disease not being completely controlled and making it more likely to relapse.

6. Neglect cleaning and maintenance

For inhalation devices, such as inhalers, if they are not cleaned regularly and the drugs are not stored as required, bacteria will grow and affect the performance of the device, which in turn affects the normal spraying and inhalation effect of the drugs.

Kind tips

1. After using inhaled glucocorticoids, you must rinse your mouth, and rinse your mouth deeply and thoroughly in the pharynx several times. This will remove the remaining drugs in the mouth and throat and avoid the local side effects of the powder.

2. When using inhalers, be sure to maintain the correct posture and breathing method. Different inhalation devices have different usage methods. When using inhalation preparations for the first time, you must do so under the guidance of medical staff to ensure that you have mastered the correct inhalation method. Do not stop using it suddenly or without authorization. Check or record the drug meter regularly to ensure the normal use of the drug in the device.

Hunan Medical Chat Special Author: Liu Ying, Respiratory Department 2, Hunan Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine

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(Edited by YT)