Are you new to using inhalers and questioning “how many puffs in an inhaler?” You’re in the right place.
Whether your doctor has prescribed an inhaler to treat asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), this brief guide will help you learn about using your device.
Knowing how many puffs you’ll get from your new inhaler is the first step to using inhaler devices the right way.
Which Inhaler Device Did Your Doctor Order?
Before you take that first puff of a new inhaler, it’s critical to know what type of inhaler your doctor prescribed for you. There are two main types of inhaler devices:
Metered-Dose Inhalers (MDIs)
These handheld aerosol devices spray out a set dose of medication. A propellant delivers the medicine into the lungs.
Dry Powder Inhalers (DPIs)
A DPI is an inhaler device that delivers medication in powder form. You must inhale the medication by taking a deep, fast breath from the inhaler.
Depending on what condition you’re being treated for, you may be able to get a discount on your device. For example, you can use an Anoro ellipta coupon if you have COPD and your doctor wants you to take this specific medicine.
Using a Nebulizer
Your doctor may ask you to use a nebulizer. The main difference between an inhaler and a nebulizer is the way the device delivers the medication.
Nebulizers convert liquid medicine into a fine mist. A tube attached to the nebulizer mouthpiece or face mask delivers the medicine.
Unlike MDI and DPI devices, you don’t need any special techniques to get your medicine-just breathe in normally.
Inhalers with Spacers
The challenge most people have when using inhalers is mastering the inhaler technique. If you use an MDI, using your inhaler with a spacer can help make getting the right dose of medicine easier.
A spacer is a tube that attaches to the inhaler. The medicine flows into the spacer first and is held there until you take a deep breath and inhale the medicine.
You should not use a spacer with a DPI device.
How Many Puffs in an Inhaler?
The number of puffs you can get from an inhaler depends on the type of inhaler you’re using and the prescribed dosage.
Metered-dose inhalers (MDIs) usually contain around 200 puffs. Dry powder inhalers (DPIs) typically range from 30 to 120 doses.
In the past, it was a challenge to figure out how many puffs a person had left in an inhaler. Today, almost every inhaler has a built-in dose counter.
The counter is easy to see as it’s on the outside of the inhaler device. The counter shows how many doses you have left in your inhaler.
Use Your Inhaler with Confidence
Most patients are curious about how many puffs in an inhaler because they don’t want to run out of medicine. Thanks to modern manufacturing, you’ll likely know how many doses you have simply by looking at the counter on your device.
It’s always wise to learn about your medicine before leaving the doctor’s office or the pharmacy. Don’t hesitate to ask questions so that you can feel confident using your inhaler device.
For more helpful health and lifestyle tips, please check out our other articles. We know you’ll enjoy reading them.
