Inhaler delivery, which is the better type, DPI or MDI

[Frued]

I’m normally prescribed DPI (symbicort) but was give the MDI instead this time. Does anyone have any views which is the better delivery system, thanks

[peege]

Personally, I prefer MDI. I used Easibreath powder rescue inhaler & Symbicort for some years but when asthma was bad I couldn't get enough of a puff in to get a full dose. I also used a weird thing that had capsules of powder I had to twist to pierce them. I never liked the powder on my throat and kept getting throat thrush despite rinsing.

Much prefer MDI with a spacer for both rescue and preventer inhalers, still rinse and gargle, never had throat thrush since. When breathing is more difficult you can squirt the medication into the spacer, place mouthpiece in your mouth then 10 breaths in. Another advantage of MDI is when using with a spacer you get 50% more of the medication than without one.

[Frued in reply to peege]

Hi peege, thanks for your input. I’m not a big fan of powder inhalers. I never feel like I get the full dose. More so now, when my breathing is more laboured with the cold weather. I’m using the MDI with a spacer and must admit I feel like I’m getting a fuller dose.

[corriena]

I prefer MDI as i find the breath activated to difficult to use. Your asthma/respatry nurse should have a little gadget that she can set to different types of inhaler and you breath in like you are taking a inhaler, and it will tell you if you have enough breath to use that type of inhaler. Very clever stuff. And usefull if you are finding it difficult to use a particular type of inhaler

[CDPO16 in reply to corriena]

Very interesting, corriena. My respiratory nurses don't have that gadget. It does sound very useful and would have been so in the past when I was trying a variety of inhalers before hitting on my current regime which suits me quite well.

[Frued in reply to corriena]

Hi Corriena, thanks for your reply. I haven’t been able to attend with the asthma nurse due to covid. I’m being treated for emphysema and asthma, so I take incruse ellipta alongside the symbicort. I did attend the hospital in November past and did a lot of tests, still waiting on feedback. I’m finding the MDI easier for sure along with a spacer. Take care

[corriena in reply to Frued]

As long as they help you are on the right inhalers if you start to notice they become less affective (without an exarsperation) ask your gp to review change what you are using