I open my white pharmacy bag, and sitting snug inside is a brand new Ventolin evohaler. The instruction label reads ‘Take 1-2 Puffs Up to Four Times a Day, When Required.’ but how do I actually use it??

In 1955, the first pressurised metered dose inhaler was released. Sixty two years later and studies still consistently show that only around 10% of people are using inhalers correctly. That’s a whole 90% that aren’t deriving full benefit, allowing their health to suffer as a consequence of poor disease control. Thinking of the collateral damage, that’s a whole lot of wasted medicine and treatment costs.

The Correct Way To Use Your Ventolin evohaler:

1. Take the inhaler in your hand and give it a good shake. The stuff inside the canister needs to be properly mixed before use, otherwise you may end up with dose inconsistencies.
2. Position the inhaler in your hand with your index finger sitting on top of the canister, ready to push down when ready.
3. If the inhaler has been sitting dormant for a while, you will need to prime it before use. Don’t worry – all this means is, after shaking, take the cap off and spray into the air a couple of times.
4. Breathe out as much as possible (or is comfortable).
5. Your neck should be straight and chin tilted slightly back. Place into your mouth and seal your lips tightly around the mouthpiece. Aim the nozzle of the inhaler towards your throat.
6. This is the most important step. Timing your breathing. The aim is to deliver the medication into the depths of your lungs. If you just press the canister down to release medicine into your mouth cavity, without breathing in at all, you’ll end up with it all just depositing at the back of your throat right? When breathing in, the movement of air into your lungs, is what carries the medication directly to where it is needed – the lungs. Therefore the key is to begin inhalation just before pressing the canister down. This creates a flow and guides medication into the lungs.
7. Continue to breathe in as much as possible after pressing the canister to deliver the medication as far down into the lungs as possible.
8. Hold your breath for as long as is comfortable.
9. Take the inhaler out of your mouth.
10. For a second puff, give your self a moment to catch your breath and simply start again from step 4. (It may sound tedious but is not recommended to press the canister down twice in one inhalation, so you will need to repeat steps 4 – 9).

Medical disclaimer: This information does not replace the advice of a doctor, or other medical professional. Always see a doctors or pharmacist for any medical concerns.