What is the difference between inhalers and nebulizers

Metered-dose inhaler MDI : This is the most common type of inhaler. A metered-dose inhaler uses a chemical to push the medicine into the lungs. It is held in front of or put into the mouth as the medicine is released in puffs. Nebulizer: A nebulizer is a machine that sprays a fine, liquid mist of medicine.

The medicine is delivered with a mouthpiece or mask. Nebulizers are often used by people who cannot use metered-dose inhalers, such as infants and young children, and people with severe asthma. You may need a nebuliser in an emergency, if you are struggling to breathe and need a high dose of your reliever medicine or if you need antibiotics to treat an infection.

Nebulisers are also occasionally used for babies and very small children. The most often seen nebuliser is a mains powered compressor device. Sometimes described as a jet nebuliser.

If your healthcare professional agrees that you need a nebuliser and is happy to supply the medication be sure to get one from a reputable manufacturer. However if you nebulise more frequently and possibly use multiple nebules, spending a little more could be cost effective. Nebulising an antibiotic should be done through a 'closed system'.

Portable nebulisers are these days much more effective and efficient. Compressor type nebulisers such as the Pari Mini or the Innospire Mini weigh around g and are really versatile. You can use them with a 12v car lead or a rechargeable battery.

Mesh nebulisers work with a different type of technology, they are tiny and virtually silent. The mesh is a small metal plate with 6, microscopic holes which the medication is pushed through, at speed, to form a visible mist. This vibrating mesh technology allows your medication to penetrate quickly and deeply into your lungs. They can operate from shop bought batteries such as the Omron U , Beurer IH55 or come with a rechargeable battery like the Innospire Go.

Ultrasonic nebulisers use a piezoelectric crystal vibrating at high frequency to create the aerosol. The vibrations are transmitted through a buffer to the drug solution usually water and form a fountain of liquid in the nebulisation chamber.

Writing down the number of puffs helps you know when it's time to get a new inhaler. With an MDI, you need to squeeze the inhaler and breathe the medicine into the lungs right away. If you don't breathe in at exactly the right moment, the medicine may end up in your mouth instead of in your lungs.

Using a spacer helps prevent this from happening. A spacer is a kind of holding chamber for medicine. It attaches to the inhaler on one end and to a mouthpiece or mask on the other end. When you push down on your inhaler, the medicine stays in the spacer until you're ready to breathe it in. Like the name says, dry powder inhalers deliver medicine as a powder. The powder is also breathed in, but it doesn't spray out. You need to do more of the work by inhaling the powdered medicine quickly and strongly.

Nebulizers are machines that turn liquid asthma medicine into a fine mist. The person with asthma breathes the mist into the lungs. Nebulizers take at least 5 or 10 minutes to deliver the medicine. They can be a bit bulky and noisy, and might not be that easy to carry around.