title: Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease inhalers: Techniques for proper use.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) affect millions of Americans. Inhalers are necessary to manage these diseases, but physicians and patients often struggle to use them correctly.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To simplify inhaler use for patients and physicians.
  
  
  METHODS
  This article compares the various inhalers used to treat asthma and COPD, their techniques for use, and the steps necessary to prime the inhaler if required. The authors provide a suggested standardized technique for the use of metered-dose inhalers, dry powder inhalers, and soft-mist inhalers to provide for a more universal approach for the use of these medications and summarizes how each product is to be used per the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved package insert.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The simplified techniques proposed in this article for the use of metered-dose inhalers, dry powder inhalers, and soft mist inhalers used to treat asthma and COPD may limit inhaler misuse and aid in proper medication delivery and treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine Tampa, Tampa, Florida.
authors.forename: Amber N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Pepper
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cooke
authors.forename: Lachara
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Livingston
authors.forename: Richard F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Lockey
mesh_terms: D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000145:classification; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000145:classification; D058995:Dry Powder Inhalers; D006801:Humans; D036501:Metered Dose Inhalers; D009330:Nebulizers and Vaporizers; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000188:drug therapy; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents