1. Use a metered dose inhaler

   A metered dose inhaler is a small machine that you put up to your mouth. At the same time that you take a breath in through your mouth, you press on the top of the inhaler. This puffs some of the medicine down into your lungs. With a little bit of practice, even children in kindergarten can learn how to use metered dose inhalers. A spacer (a small plastic tube) can be attached to the inhaler to make it even easier to use so that even littler children can it. Press here if you want to learn more about using an inhaler.

2. Use a nebulizer

   A nebulizer is an electric machine that mixes medicine and water and turns them into a mist that you can breath in. Breathing in medicine from a nebulizer is a lot like breathing in the steam or mist that builds up in the bathroom when you take a bath or a shower.

   Using a nebulizer to take medicine works almost the same way as using an inhaler, but for most people it is easier to use a nebulizer than it is to use than an inhaler. Nebulizers work well for

   • children who are less than five
   • for older people who have trouble using an inhaler
   • for people who have lots of bad asthma attacks

All contents copyright (C) 1996, Stephen M. Borowitz. All rights reserved
Revised: October 20, 1999.