Spacers are holding chambers placed on the mouthpiece of a metered-dose inhaler to extend its distance from the mouth. They ensure more of the medication gets into the airways.
Inhalers can deliver the right amount of asthma medication fast. However, they require you to take a good, deep breath timed exactly with the release of medication from the inhaler. If you inhale at the wrong time, the medication may hit and stick to the back of your throat or otherwise not reach your airways.
An inhaler can be fitted with a spacer to help improve your medication intake.
Keep reading to learn more about the benefits of using a spacer and how to use and care for it to ensure it works as it should.
A spacer is a clear tube between the inhaler holding your asthma medication and your mouthpiece. When the medication is released, it moves into the spacer, where it can be inhaled more slowly. The timing between the medication release and when it’s inhaled doesn’t have to be quite so precise.
A spacer is used for a type of inhaler known as a metered dose inhaler. This device releases a preset or metered dose of medication.
Usually, it includes a type of medication called a bronchodilator. It may also include a corticosteroid. Your dose may be for long-term asthma symptom control throughout the day. Or your dose may be a quick-acting treatment to help prevent symptom flare-ups or to stop a flare-up before it gets worse. You can use a spacer with both types of medications.
Both children and adults can use inhaler spacers.
Spacers may also be attached to a mask for easy use. This may be preferable for children under 3.
The main advantage of an inhaler spacer is that it helps control your medication intake. This ensures you get the prescribed amount and allows you to inhale it in a way that’s comfortable for you.
Inhalers typically require you to press a button that releases the medication and then take a deep breath immediately. This rapid set of actions can be challenging for some people. With a spacer, you don’t have to rush your intake of the medication. Some spacers even make a whistle sound if you breathe in too fast.
An inhaler spacer also helps reduce the amount of medication that remains in your throat or on your tongue after you breathe in a dose. You want as much medication as possible to go down your airways and into your lungs.
A common issue with inhaler use that doesn’t include a spacer is that timing your breathing incorrectly means less medication makes it to your lungs.
Even though a spacer makes it a little easier to use your inhaler, you still have to focus on breathing in once the medication is released. Medication that isn’t inhaled will settle on the bottom of the spacer.
The device must be cleaned frequently because some medication and moisture from your breathing can remain in the spacer. This isn’t too time consuming, but it’s necessary to prevent an infection or irritation of your mouth or throat.
You may not need to clean it after every use, but you’ll need to do so at least after every few uses or if the inhaler hasn’t been used for a day or two.
You can talk with your doctor about how often you need to clean your spacer.
A metered dose inhaler is a metal canister that contains a spray or mist form of asthma medication. Pressing a button at one end of the canister releases the mist through a nozzle or mouthpiece. The inhaler releases the same amount of medication each time you press the button.
You may need to shake your inhaler a couple of times to loosen the medication inside. Also, remember to remove the cap that covers the mouthpiece.
If you use a spacer, one tube end attaches to the inhaler’s mouthpiece. The other end of the spacer has a similar mouthpiece for you to use. Place your mouth on the mouthpiece.
Time your breathing carefully with the release of the medication. If you breathe in too early, you may not have enough breath to get all the medication into your lungs. If you breathe in too late, a lot of medication can settle in the spacer.
Breathing in too fast can also cause the medication to stick to the back of your throat instead of going down your airways. If this happens, you may taste the medication more than if it went down to your airways.
Ideally, you want to take a long, slow breath of about three to four seconds.
Without a spacer
If you don’t have a spacer, place your teeth and lips tightly around the inhaler mouthpiece to make sure as much medication as possible is breathed directly into your lungs.
You can also hold the inhaler an inch from your opened mouth, but you’ll need to press the button and breathe in quickly to capture as much of the medication as possible.
The most important aspect of inhaler spacer care is keeping it clean. You can do this with clean, warm water and liquid dishwashing detergent.
Allow the spacer to air dry rather than drying it with a towel or paper towel. Static can build up inside the spacer, which makes the medication stick to the sides of the tube. Towel strands may also be left behind in the spacer. You don’t want to inhale those. You may use a towel on the mouthpiece if you wish.
You should also clean your spacer before using it for the first time. Once or twice a year, your doctor can check it for cracks and ensure it works properly with your inhaler.
Some children and adults prefer using an inhaler spacer. Others would rather get the medication directly from the inhaler.
If using an inhaler leaves medication in your mouth or throat, try using a spacer. It may help get more medication into your lungs where it’s needed.
Keep in mind there are a variety of inhalers and spacers on the market. The key is to find a system that provides you the relief you need to breathe easier.