How to use a spacer

Return to Index Step 1: Taking Control of Your Asthma Step 2: What is Asthma? Step 3: Know the Signs Step 4: How Asthma Is Diagnosed Step 5: The Levels of Severity Step 6: Determine Your Goals and Expectations Step 7: Asthma Drugs Step 8: Drug Delivery Devices Step 9: Understand Your Action Plan Step 10: Make "Peak Flow" a Habit! Step 11: Avoid Asthma Triggers Step 12: Visit Your Doctor Regularly Key Points Glossary

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How to use a spacer

Spacers (also called holding chambers) work with your metered dose inhaler (MDI) to deliver inhaled medication more easily and effectively, and can reduce side effects. They are useful for people of all ages.

When you use an MDI by itself, more of the medicine is left in your mouth and throat, wasting your dose and causing an unpleasant aftertaste. Spacers hold the "puff" of medicine between you and the MDI, so that you can inhale it slowly and more completely. As a result, more of the medicine gets into your airways.

Instructions

First, insert the mouthpiece of your inhaler into the opening at the flat end of the spacer.
Hold your spacer and inhaler together and shake well, at least four times.
Seal your lips tightly around the mouthpiece on the spacer.
Keep your body straight and your eyes forward. Exhale.
Spray one puff of medicine into the spacer, and immediately begin to inhale slowly, taking a full deep breath.
Remove the spacer from your mouth. Hold your breath and count to 10. Slowly exhale.

If your doctor has instructed you to take more than one puff of medication, repeat this procedure.

A tip for a better fit

A comfortable mask can be added to the spacer for small children or others who have difficulty maintaining a good lip seal on the mouthpiece.

Review Date: 6/29/2012
Reviewed By: Allen J. Blaivas, DO, Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine UMDNJ-NJMS, Attending Physician in the Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, Department of Veteran Affairs, VA New Jersey Health Care System, East Orange, NJ. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Previoulsy reviewed by David A. Kaufman, MD, Section Chief, Pulmonary, Critical Care & Sleep Medicine, Bridgeport Hospital-Yale New Haven Health System, and Assistant Clinical Professor, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. (6/1/2010)

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