How to prime an inhaler?

Are you ready to take your inhaler game to the next level? The first step is mastering the art of priming. Now, we know what you’re thinking – “what even is priming?” Don’t worry, we’ve got your back.

What Is Priming?

Priming refers to preparing your inhaler for use by releasing a dose of medication into the air. This helps ensure that when you take a puff, you are receiving the correct dosage of medication. Without proper priming, your inhaler may not deliver enough medicine or could dispense too much.

Why Do I Need to Prime My Inhaler?

We’ll let you in on a little secret: if you don’t prime your inhaler before each use, it’s like trying to start a car without putting gas in it. It just won’t work! By properly priming your inhaler every time, you can make sure that it delivers the right amount of medication straight into your lungs where it needs to go (1).

In addition to ensuring accurate dosages, consistent priming also keeps the inside of your device clean and free from blockages (2).

When Should I Prime My Inhaler?

It’s essential always to prime an aerosol metered-dose inhalers (MDI) at least once per day (3) or if any symptoms occur after shaking well before using and opening cap/safety catch (4) because there might be chemical changes/extra particles accumulation during storage while Dry Powder MDIs should be cleaned regularly with tissue as they are used by firing twisting & cleaning (5) otherwise failure would result from excess deposition and blocks.

Additionally said advisedly some devices such as breath-actuated DPIs/multi-dose reservoir nebulizers/Patient-specific spacer aids do not require explicit actuation for priming, but it’s good practice to consult an expert or manufacturer manuals for operating instructions.

How to Prime Your Inhaler

So, you’re finally ready to learn how to prime your inhaler? Let’s get started! The specific steps for priming will vary depending on the type of inhaler you are using. However, here is a general step-by-step guide that applies to most types (6):

1. Make sure your inhaler is clean and dry.
2. Remove the cap (if applicable).
3. Shake the canister vigorously up and down at least five times.
4. Hold the canister firmly between two fingers and turn your head away from it.
5. Breathe out slowly and completely through your mouth.
6. Place the mouthpiece in your mouth with lips tightly sealed around it
   7.While inhaling press on top of device (some MDI devices require pressing while breathing only)
   8.Breathe in SLOWLY Inhale deeply as much as possible
   9.Immediately Step 5: Clean Your Mouthpiece After Using It (7):
   After spraying medication into air/inhaled user must not forget alternative cleaning hence after use Cleaner such alcohol/mild detergent/soap-water scrubbing/dairy products removes bacteria/viruses/unwanted particles/Mouth sores & provide better taste-perception/pharmaceutical performance.

Additionally some manufacturers have complex systems sometimes component replacement/disassembling may be required otherwise they also have shelf life/expiry dates which signals when its time for replacement even if primed seamlessly

And there you have it – a complete primer (pun intended) on how to properly prime your inhalers! By following these simple tips, you’ll make sure that every dose counts!

Final Thoughts

Don’t let improper treatment administration get in the way of leading a healthy lifestyle: learning about whenand howto administer the medication is the first line of defense. Improperly administering medications oftentimes only aggravates underlying conditions instead of mitigating them!

So stay safe, breath intentionally and happy priming !