How to Give Metered-Dose Inhaler

Metered-dose inhalers are used to give the medicine through the lungs. Patients who suffer from asthma, COPD, or other respiratory problems can use them.

A metered dose inhaler works by letting the patient inhale a certain amount of medicine at a certain rate. The person using the inhaler turns it on by pressing down on it and then takes a deep breath through their mouth while keeping the mouthpiece in their mouth. This makes it easier to give the right amount of medicine than with nebulizers or oral sprays

It is important to give an MDI correctly so that the medicine gets into the lungs. Metered dose inhalers give a certain amount of medicine with each breath. 

How to Properly Give a Metered-Dose Inhaler

Follow these steps to learn how to give an MDI, which is short for metered dose inhaler:

1. Before giving the inhaler, take it out of its packaging and give it a good shake
2. This helps mix the medicine and the gas that makes the canister move inside
3. Tell the patient to let out as much air as he/she can, and then let him/her put the inhaler in his/her mouth.
4. While the patient's lips are closed around the mouthpiece, ask the patient to take deep, even breaths.
5. When the patient starts to take a breath in, ask the patient to press down on the canister with his/her index finger to let the medicine out.
6. Ask the patient to try holding his/her breath for a few seconds, and then let it out slowly.

If the patient needs an extra dose, wait a few minutes and then continue with the treatment as usual.

What are the Pros and Cons of Using a Metered-dose Inhaler?

The MDI is better than other ways of giving medicine, like syringes and nebulizers, because it is portable, easy to use, and allows patients to give themselves their medicine. But there are also some problems with how it is used. For example, it can take a while for a patient to learn how to use a metered dose inhaler (MDI), and the medicine may not reach the lungs as well as if it were given in another way.

As a nurse, it's important to correctly identify your patient, wash your hands, give them privacy, explain the procedure before you begin, and don't forget to write down what happened after the treatment.