To ask about steroid inhalers?

[santaclothes]

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

@actiongirl1978

No.

Asthmatic for 37 yrs. Had a horrible big spacer when I was young, the smell when you opened it to clean it used to make me gag.

The new type makes a ridiculous whistle when you breathe in and it makes you breathe too slowly. I don't have time to be faffing around breathing in slowly.

I have three inhalers and sometimes double puff for efficiency.

Never been in hospital, occasionally get a chesty cough that necessitates steroids about every 4yrs.

If the aerochamber (narrower spacer) whistles when you're using it, then you're using it incorrectly, it only takes seconds more to breathe slowly, this will likely increase the dosage reaching your lung surfaces; this, & increasing your salbutamol dose when you have a common cold/viral chest infection, as per your asthma management plan, could prevent you needing to take oral steroids

@actiongirl1978

I've only had oral thrush about 3 times also. So clearly I'm doing something right!

I don't understand your reasoning here. Having oral thrush three times would not suggest you're doing something right. I use a spacer and I've never had oral thrush.

Yep. We both do. Much easier - I really could never get the hang of doing it without a spacer. Rinse mouth afterwards each time. I have a small spacer in my handbag for Ventolin if I need it.

Yes. My dr explained that without its like throwing paint at a wall a d hoping it will stick. The tube thing makes it more like using a roller - better coverage.

I have never used a spacer and never had oral thrush either however seeing these replies is making me consider a spacer

They are only small these days about 6 inches long. Fits in my hand bag fine not giant ones kids used to have.

I've always had an aero chamber thing with mine and always use it. It's much easier, means I don't need to time it right, don't cough and I was told it gets more of the drug into you.

The new type makes a ridiculous whistle when you breathe in and it makes you breathe too slowly. I don't have time to be faffing around breathing in slowly

It makes you breathe correctly to get the dose deep into your lungs where you need it. How long does it seriously take to breathe more slowly for one puff - half a second?
If it's whistling, you aren't using it properly and if that's how you use your inhaler, you don't have correct technique.

I like the spacer as it requires no co-ordination but also makes you get the dose right in by not breathing too fast.

I'm severe asthmatic (CEV)
Absolutely use aero chamber if you can, my GP or consultant has mine in prescription - I can tell you without doubt - no matter how good your technique is- that if you are using evohaler, (inhaler) you get more of dose into your lungs using it with spacer/aero chamber.

I have small collapsible one for my handbag (for Ventolin) and one at home. One of my steroid inhalers I can't use this to take (wrong shape & is quick release) but I can with my fostair inhaler. Rinse mouth too afterwards.