Using Inhalers

Hi, my name is______
I'm a final year student.
How are you today?

Find the Problem
Okay, from your symptoms and peak flow recording we believe you might have asthma. What do you know about asthma? How do you feel about it?

Asthma is a condition of the lung where you can get difficulty breathing. We find sensitive airways, that react by narrowing when they become irritated, making it difficult for air to move in or out. It's this narrowing that causes the chest tightness and wheezing that you've been experienced.

We can do something to help with these symptoms. To help with this condition we can prescribe you salbutamol, which is given in a blue inhaler. It works by opening up the airways so air can move more freely. By being given in an inhaler we can deliver the medicine exactly where it needs to be. Is that okay?

What do you know about inhalers? Have you ever used one before?

Demonstrate
Okay, I'm going to show you how to use the inhaler, because technique is very important in ensuring you get the most out of it and to help your lungs as much as possible. Use it when you art feeling wheezy or tightness of the chest.
First we shake the inhaler with the cap on to mix the medicine properly. We remove the cap from the mouthpiece and hold the inhaler like so, between your thumb and index finger, with your index finger on the canister.
Take a big breath in and fully breathe out. Put the mouthpiece in your mouth. At the same time as you breath in push down on the top of the inhaler. Hold your breath for ten seconds afterwards.

Repeat if necessary after 1 minutes.
Gargle/rinse out your mouth if you are using a steroid inhaler.

Mild side-effects of salbutamol include fast heart rate, shakiness and headaches. If they are worrying you should again come back to us.
Salbutamol can be taken 2 puffs as needed, up to 4 times a day, as the maximum. If you need more than that you should return to us, as we might need to try something else, perhaps combining it with another inhaler.

Does that sound okay to you?

Repeat Relevant Parts
Can you show me know how you would use it?
Can you tell me when should you use it?

General Advice
There may be some leaflets I can give you to help your understanding, and to take home with you.

ICE
Do you have any questions, ideas, concerns, expectations?

We'll review you in a while to see how you are doing with it, and if your symptoms have improved.
Does that sound okay?

Thank you!