How To Use A Dry Powder Inhaler

Dry powder inhalers (DPIs) deliver asthma medicines in the form of a very fine powder. The powder is so small, that sometimes you can’t feel, taste or smell the medicine – but if used the right way, you are getting the medicine.

There are a lot of differences between DPI-type inhalers and MDI (pressurized spray) inhalers. Dry powder inhalers can not be used with a spacer (like an Aerochamber ^® or similar product), so usually DPIs are used for children 6-8 years and older. You do not need to shake the DPI inhalers. You should never put or “float” the DPI inhalers in water – they have indicators that tell you when they are empty.

There are several different types of DPIs and they all work differently. Two common DPIs are the Diskus ^® (Serevent^® and Advair^®) and the Turbuhaler^® (Pulmicort^®).

Diskus^®

1. Hold the Diskus^® horizontally (like a hamburger) in one hand.
   
   
2. Put the thumb of the other hand in the thumbgrip (the dent) and push your thumb away from you as far as it goes until it “clicks” open.
   
   
3. With the mouthpiece facing you, push the lever as far as it goes until it “clicks”.
   
   
4. Breathe out all the way (never breathe or blow into the Diskus^®).
   
   
5. Put the mouthpiece to your lips and breathe in deeply and strongly all the way as much as you can (breathe in through your mouth & Diskus ^®, not your nose).
   
   
6. Hold your breath for 10 seconds, or as long as comfortable. Breathe out away from the inhaler.
   
   
7. Close the Diskus^® by putting your thumb on the thumbgrip dent and clicking it shut.
   
   
8. The number in the little window tells you how many “clicks” are left. When the number goes down to “0”, the Diskus ^® is empty and you need to get a new one

Turbuhaler^®

1. Twist the cover and lift off all the way.
   
   
2. Hold the Turbuhaler^® with the mouthpiece pointing up (like a rocket ship)
   
   
3. Twist the brown grip at the bottom to the right as far as it will go, then twist it back to the left until you hear a “click”
   
   
4. Breathe out all the way (never breathe or blow into the Turbuhaler^®)
   
   
5. Put the mouthpiece to your lips and breathe in deeply and strongly all the way as much as you can (breathe in through your mouth & Turbuhaler ^®, not your nose).
   
   
6. You do not have to hold your breath. Breathe out away from the inhaler.
   
   
7. If more than one “click” is required, repeat steps 2 – 6.
   
   
8. When done, put the cover back on and twist closed.
   
   
9. When a red mark shows up at the top of the little clear window, there are 20 “clicks” left. When the red mark reaches the bottom of the little clear window, the Turbuhaler ^® is empty and you need to get a new one.