Spacer.

[Tilantoe]

What are the benefits of using a spacer. I have never had one before because I have always had powder versions. But trimbow is liquid.

[Damon1864 Volunteer]

With a spacer you get more of the spray, a nurse told me it's far better to use a spacer. Hope this helps 😊 Bernadette xx

[2greys]

With a spacer the delivery of the medicine is a lot more efficient and the spray does not hit the back of your throat or on your tongue.

It is a lot different to take than the powder ones. You inhale from the spacer very slowly, not hard and fast as with the powders.

When you clean the spacer, then it has to air dry, do not wipe it dry or you will create a static charge and the meds will be attracted to the sides instead of forming a mist in the middle.

[Tilantoe in reply to 2greys]

Thanks for the info. I would have tried to dry it with a clean cloth if you hadn't told me. And.the reason why I shouldn't do it.

[stone-UK in reply to Tilantoe]

Hi

Do the final rinse in warm water with a splash of washing up liquid, then leave to air dry, it’s the washing up liquid that stops the build up of static.

[Tilantoe in reply to stone-UK]

Will do thankyou

[Hidden in reply to 2greys]

Thanks 2greys I didn't know that either. Luckily my husband dried mine off with the hair dryer last time Chris

[Llgr]

As Bernadette says you get more of the medication into your system with a spacer. With the spacer ready to go, empty your lungs, spray the meds and take a deep breath in. I use one with my ventolin.😊

[stone-UK]

Hi

A guide with videos, how to use with or without AeroChamber spacer.

chiesirespiratory.co.uk/tri...

[Tilantoe in reply to stone-UK]

Thankyou the video was very informative.

[Bkin]

Briefly the spacer help you inhale the medicine deeper into your lungs and helps prevent thrush in the mouth and throat, but you still need to rinse gargle and brush teeth after using most of the steroid inhaler medicines combo or singular.

[Ern007 in reply to Bkin]

Hi Bkin - I am a tad confused by your post. I was given a spacer for Salbutamol and Ipratropium bromide. The Serevent I use is a powder which I cab't use with a spacer. Have you got your steroid inhaler as a liquid and not powder? Just asking because that I am sure would cause less thrush.

[HungryHufflepuff in reply to Ern007]

I know you didn’t ask me, sorry for intruding here. Is serevent a steroid? I used to have serevent, it was liquid and I didn’t think it was a steroid inhaler. Now I have fostair which is a combination inhaler, it’s a steroid but also a liquid inhaler and I use a spacer with it.

Apparently I’m being taken off fostair next week but haven’t been told what I’m getting in its place. I shall wait and see and soon find out 😕

[Ern007 in reply to HungryHufflepuff]

Hi, No worries you are not intruding. Serevent is a mix of Salmeterol which is a long lasting bronchodilator and fluticasone which IS an inhaled "steroid" - Mine is a disk inhaler which dispenses dry powder. It is metered so a spacer can't be used...Hope this helps - You may get Pulmicort, I asked to come off that because it cause more problems with thrush than any other i have used, the steroid in that is Budesonide + a long lasting bronchodilator.

[Bkin in reply to Ern007]

I used to use a spacer for my steroid inhaler until the consultant recommended Relvar which is a powder and cannot be used with a spacer. I am not liking the powder inhaler one bit. Mist / liquid is much better in my opinion where you can use a spacer.

No you can't use a spacer with powder inhaled medicines. I think the powder because you can't use a spacer is more likely to cause thrush, but with both powder and mist/liquid inhalers you need to rinse brush teeth and gargle to try and avoid thrush. Does that make more sense?

[Ern007 in reply to Bkin]

Bkin - Yes, I was not aware there was liquid steroid inhalers or I would have asked for one years ago, Dry powder is a pain and rinsing the mouth is no guarantee you won't get thrush..

[HungryHufflepuff]

Apparently it’s almost impossible to have a bad inhaler technique if you use a spacer. That’s what I was told by the nurse anyway. And it does help reduce problems like thrush though like other people have already said, you still need to wash out your mouth.

[greatauntali]

I have always had to use a spacer with salbutamol as well as all the others apart from the dry powders. This is because my coordination is off and I was blowing when I should have been sucking, if you see what I mean.

[Bkin in reply to greatauntali]

love it

[Ern007 in reply to greatauntali]

Nice one so - As you fired the salbutamol you was at the same time, blowing in back in the inhaler. Classic.

[GMcC2]

I've used a spacer for years as it's the only way I can manage to take my steroid inhaler. Makes it much easier. As above advice, wash with bit of washing up liquid, be it a good rinse and air dry.

[challny in reply to GMcC2]

So, this is kind of odd, I think. I have Symbicort, Ventolin and Spiriva Respimat. The first two would be used with a spacer. I had read so much about the benefits of spacers that I recently asked my pulmonologist about it. Her reply was that I did not need a spacer because I have never developed thrush (whenever I visit she checks my mouth and throat with a little flashlight) She is supposed to be a very good doctor and works with a pulmonary group at a major hospital. I was just surprised that she did not recommend a spacer. I've also been surprised that she never called for a CT scan, only x-rays and spirometry tests. She says I have moderate emphysema with "some" asthma and an FEV1 of 71 percent. I'm set to have another breathing test next month.

[Hidden]

With a spacer you get 100% of what you inhail, when I’m feeling ill with infection or using fostair I always use a spacer for maximum benefit as otherwise your medication ends up in your mouth, tongue or stomach leaving lesser amount in your lungs.

[sarries22]

As has been said. The spacer does indeed deliver more of the powder to your lungs. I was reluctant for years to use a spacer but finally succumbed. I am pleased i did. Another benefit is less of a dry mouth during the night. I find the benefit of the inhalr does not last any longer but it has a better effect during it's span....if that makes sense.

[MisUse]

II have used a spacer for many years, as my lung function is poor and can’t get a strong enough breath in to get the inhalant deep into my lungs. All I have to do with the spacer is take 5 breaths in for each puff. Much easier and efficient. I am now also using nebuliser for atrovent which is even better, but found using the neb for ventolin made my heart rate faster so still use spacer for that

[Sandyeggo]

Ah the spacer, one of my favorite inventions. I really can’t do w/o it. Much easier to handle, no rush, more efficient dosing( nothing gets away), and it’s easier to inhale with. Just to name a few. It’s also nearly impossible to lose in your bag or purse as I take it with me on my “rescue”inhaler when I go out for the day. I use to feel like my lungs just weren’t strong enough to pull the medecine in, the spacer just makes something miserable a whole lot easier. Highly recommend one!

[Johnem]

For those doing the Huff technique for removing mucus from lungs. I find that it works well via my spacer. If I need to remove mucus when also needing my Ventolin (Salbutamol) via spacer. I perform the 'Huff' during it. IE, I breathe in the Ventolin via my spacer and hold for the count of 5 then release, same again twice more, then, a final breathe in, and 'huff' out/cough without the spacer. I then do this again with the second Ventolin spacer inhalation and this mostly removes the mucus affecting my breathing. If necessary, I will do it again as normal without spacer and Ventolin. If I'm extremely congested, I'll do it with Ventolin and spacer twice more.

[D7777]

I understand that it lets the finer particles go through into your lungs and the larger particles fall out. The benefit is that the particles don’t stick to your back of the throat so you are less likely to get thrush, especially if you neglect to gargle afterwords

[HungryHufflepuff in reply to D7777]

I have never learned how to gargle, I either choke or swallow the water. So I just wash my mouth out and hope for the best. I just saw someone saying about brushing their teeth after using their inhaler, that's a great idea. But the spacer does help minimise the risk of thrush 👍

[lKeith]

Tilantoe

Hi, I used to have powdered versions of inhalers but since but am now unable to suck in well enough so all of my inhalers are now powder free. The advantage I find with a spacer ( for the record there are 2No types long & short, the most common of which is the short) allows for the vapour/mist to enter the spacer and you breath in as a normal breath and do not have to take it down quickly. The longer spacer is even more user friendly in that it has a non return valve action which allows you to take the inhaler over a longer period and you can breath it in

at your pace, (not leaving it for ever). the end result I am informed is a better overall intake of the inhalers content.

IKeith

[Tilantoe in reply to lKeith]

Thankyou. The one I have got says I can breath it in and out in the spacer for 5 breaths if you can't do it in.1 long slow one. Which is good for me as I find it difficult breathing in slowly for 1 long breath. So I don't think I would be able to use it otherwise. As the powder ones were 1 hard short breath which I could do.

[Hopefull]

I was recommended to use a Aero Chamber for Salbutamol as it does help get it deeper into your lungs,but when I was prescribed Trimbow I was told to use just the spacer not sure why.xx

[Tilantoe in reply to Hopefull]

I don't know why either. As it mentions the aero chamber in the instructions for trimbow. How are you getting along with trimbow?

[Hopefull in reply to Tilantoe]

Hi,Will have to have a read of the instructions,but my respiritory nurse said NOT to use the Aero Chamber,but to use the spacer for Trimbow,I must try and remember to ask her next time I see her,but that could be ages !!,I find Trimbow the best one I`ve had and I`ve tried quite a few

[lKeith]

Tilantoe

Hi, sounds like you have the best one already.

IKeith