To ask about steroid inhalers?

[santaclothes]

If you use a steroid inhaler do you take yours through a spacer?

My dd is 15 and has asthma all her life. She doesn't use a spacer now although I try to encourage her. She used one when she was younger but thinks it is more convenient to bring it everywhere without the spacer.

I had to use an inhaler for 6 weeks last year and had to use a spacer as I couldn't get the technique right without it.

Always. And have a glass of water afterwards. I use a spacer with both inhalers. More of the medicine gets into the lungs instead of just hitting the back of your throat.

I have to with my son but he’s only a child, he doesn’t like it without

Yes. My GP prescribed a spacer as a matter of course with the steroid inhaler more recently. Years ago, I would use a spacer when unwell, but other than that they weren’t encouraged like they are now.

I feel that it’s more successful using the spacer (I have a small aero chamber now rather than a large spacer that sounds like you’re milking a cow).

My husband, 3 year old and 6 year old all use spacers for their inhalers every morning and night.
Its more effective to use them.

@PleaseReferToMeAsBritneySpears

Always. And have a glass of water afterwards. I use a spacer with both inhalers. More of the medicine gets into the lungs instead of just hitting the back of your throat.

I just read something similar which prompted me to post to see what others do! I have never used a spacer, it was prescribed by the GP after an appointment with a co sultans where they wrote the findings to GP and recommended the inhaler. I just picked the prescription up when it was ready but no one spoke to me about spacers or technique! I had to you tube it and didn't even consider the spacer as it's 'optional' for my salbutamol.

No, never heard of it? What’s it for?

Yes. Apparently I hadn't been taking the inhaler properly so Ive given a spacer for the time being!

@jassixa

No, never heard of it? What’s it for?

The inhaler or the spacer?

My DH had been on inhalers for many years and then his GP prescribed a spacer and it made a lot of difference to the effectiveness of the inhalers. I would definitely recommend using one.

I've only had asthma since my mid 20s but my mum developed it in around 1985. She was given a spacer back then (but the bulkier version). They're not new things. I'm surprised so many people don't use them, and that some don't even know what they are.

AeroChamber - Plus Flow-Vu Abstandshalter, mit Mundstück https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07DKG678Y/ref=cmswwrcppapiglttfabc6G9RY3QSQA8NA3P28VV0

I’m on Relvar so I’ve never used a spacer

I think I’ve had less oral thrush since using the spacer for my steroid inhaler ;)

The spacer helps stop the spray irritating your throat. Made a difference with mine as even with rinsing had constant sore throat. It’s quite rough with force really against sensitive skin. I’ve got new twist inhaler now that can hardly tell I’m taking anything in as can’t taste or feel it. So don’t want use spacer as less reliable if anything’s coming out or not given you have to suck it by force rather than a spray.

A nurse at the gp practice should be showing you how to use a spacer correctly, but I'm pretty sure a large pharmacy eg Boots can do the same.

I have spacers - not the massive ones - for ventolin because when I have an attack I can breathe the right way to take the medicine into my lungs. I also use them for my preventer when I have cold otherwise they make me cough.

@santaclothes

If you use a steroid inhaler do you take yours through a spacer?

I take a brown inhaler (Clenilmodulite) and blue one for emergencies (Ventolin). Last week, my asthma nurse and GP both told me that spacers were for people with "a poor technique", whereas I have a great technique so there is no benefit at all in me using one.

I had heard people talking about them so bought one on Amazon thinking that it was a good idea for everyone. My GP said absolutely not, and only for people who do that daft huffing thing with an inhaler where they don't actually take a deep breath in at the right moment, or can't actually use an inhaler properly because of their disease.

I would ask your asthma nurse/GP at review.

get a spacer

Just get one,

Please

I started using one a year ago, it does help me as I have struggled with my technique. I was only diagnosed in my late 30s so haven't been using inhalers for all that long.

I user my inhaler with a spacer and then brush my teeth after.

I only found out at my last review that you should also replace your spacer every year.

How to use your inhaler - Improve your inhaler technique in three minutes! Watch these short videos to learn how to use your inhaler properly and better manage your respiratory symptoms www.asthma.org.uk/advice/inhaler-videos/

How to use a spacer to get the best from your medicine www.asthma.org.uk/advice/inhalers-medicines-treatments/inhalers-and-spacers/spacers/

@PleaseReferToMeAsBritneySpears

Always. And have a glass of water afterwards. I use a spacer with both inhalers. More of the medicine gets into the lungs instead of just hitting the back of your throat.

It's advised that people using steroid inhalers "rinse your mouth out with water and spit it out or brush your teeth after using your inhaler"

www.nhs.uk/conditions/steroid-inhalers/

The drug is more effective if taken through a spacer as it stops the whole gagging and coughing if it hits your throat rather than being inhaled.

Mine are dry powder aerated inhalers so a spacer isn't used but indo rinse afterwards as they can all trigger oral thrush

No, but only because my current inhaler doesn't work with a spacer. When I'm on an inhaler that works with them then I do.

Yes because otherwise I get thrush in my mouth.

Thanks everyone, general consensus seems to be that spacer is better! I'm going to use mine and see how I get on.