Inhaler 1335820 216468597 2008-06-01T20:14:21Z DumZiBoT 6085301 robot Adding: [[es:Inhalador]] {{Refimprove|date=November 2007}} __NOTOC__ [[Image:Inhaler2.jpg|right|thumbnail|170px|An aerosol metered-dose inhaler (MDI)]] An '''inhaler''' or '''puffer''' is a medical device used for delivering medication into the body via the lungs. It is mainly used in the treatment of [[asthma]] and [[Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease]] (COPD). Medication is most commonly stored in solution in a pressurized canister. The canister is attached to a plastic, hand-operated actuator. For example, the [[metered-dose inhaler]] (''MDI'') on activation releases a fixed dose of medication in [[Aerosol spray|aerosol]] form. The correct procedure for using an MDI is to first fully exhale, place the mouth-piece end of the pump into the mouth, and having just started to inhale, depress the canister to release the medicine. The aerosolized medication is drawn into the lungs by continuing to inhale deeply before holding the breath for 10 seconds to allow absorption into the [[bronchus|bronchial]] walls. Alternatively a complementary [[Asthma spacer|spacer]] devise may be used, of which is an enclosed plastic chamber that mixes the medication with air in a simple tube, making it easier for patients to receive a full dose of the drug. The largest manufacturers of inhalers are [[GlaxoSmithKline]] (makers of the Advair Discus (a [[Dry powder inhaler|DPI]])), [[Merck & Co.|Merck]], [[AstraZeneca]] (makers of Pulmicort and Symbicort) and [[Boehringer-Ingelheim]] (makers of Atrovent, Combivent, and Spiriva). BI, GSK, Merck, and AstraZeneca manufacture the medication being delivered via inhaler. However, 3M Drug Delivery Systems does some of the finished product manufacturing, as they are one of the leaders of MDI canisters, metering valves and other components. ==Current Types of Inhalers by Delivery== * [[Metered-dose inhaler]] or MDI * [[Dry Powder Inhaler]] or DPI * [[Nebulizer]] ==Current Types of Inhalers by Category== * Rescue Inhalers: Short-Acting Beta-2 Adrenergic Bronchodilator Inhalers * Maintenance Inhalers: Long-Acting Adrenergic Bronchodilator Inhalers * Maintenance Inhalers: Anticholinergic Bronchodilators in COPD * Maintenance Inhalers: Corticosteroids * Combination Inhalers: Corticosteroid with LongActing Beta-2 Adrenergic Agonist * Combination Maintenance Inhaler: Anticholinergics with Short- Acting Beta-2 Adrenergic Agonists<ref>[http://www.redorbit.com/news/health/156919/changes_in_inhaler_devices_for_asthma_and_copd/index.html Changes in Inhaler Devices for Asthma And COPD - Health - RedOrbit<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> == External links == *[http://www.normanchigier.com/SpraySystemsusedinAerosolMedicationandTabletCoatings.html Recent advances in spray medication technology] *[http://www.ourasthma.com Ourasthma.com] – a patient-oriented site with information on asthma inhalers. *[http://zhenbo.9f.com/ Discrete simulation of powder dispersion in pharmaceutical aerosol inhalers] == References == {{reflist}} *Patton, J., Breathing life into protein drugs - Inhalation of therapeutic macromolecules is a feasible, natural, more people-friendly, delivery system. Nature Biotechnology, 1998. 16(2): p. 141-143. {{Template:Dosage forms}} [[Category:Respiratory therapy]] [[Category:Medical pumps]] [[Category:Drug delivery devices]] [[Category:Asthma]] [[de:Inhalator]] [[es:Inhalador]] [[sv:Inhalator]]