How to Use Your Inhaler

1. Shake the inhaler well immediately before each use.
2. Breathe out fully through the mouth to gently empty your lungs of air.
3. Place the mouthpiece fully into your mouth, enclosing your lips directly around the mouthpiece.
4. Squeeze (activate) the inhaler while taking a slow, deep breath.
5. Hold the breath at full inspiration for 10 seconds.
6. Repeat steps 2–5 for multiple inhalations as prescribed by your physician, but wait 1 minute between puffs.
7. Clean the plastic mouthpiece weekly (see cleaning instructions below).

How Athletes Can Help Themselves Avoid Exercise-Induced Asthma

When used in conjunction with inhaled medications, a warm-up period before exercise can help athletes avoid or control episodes of exercise-induced asthma (EIA) during competition. Here is what we recommend for patients with EIA:

1. Begin by pre-medicating with a Beta-agonist and/or Cromolyn via metered dose inhaler.
2. Warm up with 10 to 15 minutes of stretching exercise.
3. Begin aerobic exercise (such as jogging or running). Raise your heart rate to 50%–60% of your maximum and sustain it for 5 to 10 minutes. This may induce mild airway obstruction.
4. Follow up with a cool-down period.
5. Repeat the pre-medication procedure described in Step 1 immediately before competition starts.

Inhaler Cleaning Technique

All MDI inhalers need to be kept clean. To check if cleaning is needed, remove the mouthpiece cap and look inside the actuator — specifically into the small exit hole where the medication comes out. If there is white, crusty residue forming around the hole, it is time to wash it. When dried crystals accumulate around the exit port, less medication gets through to the airways. Always check the individual patient instructions for each medication.

Step 1
Cautiously remove the metal canister from the plastic actuator. Never place the metal canister in water — you are cleaning the actuator only, not the canister.

Step 2
Run warm water through the top and bottom of the plastic actuator for 30 seconds. Never put the actuator in boiling water or in the dishwasher.

Step 3
Shake off the excess water.

Step 4
Allow the actuator to air-dry, then reinsert the canister. If you need your inhaler before it is fully dry, shake off the excess water, shake and prime the inhaler, use it, and then rewash it.

If you have any questions, contact our office: Omaha: 402-391-1800 Lincoln: 402-464-5969