Alabama Allergy & Asthma Center

Spacers

While Metered Dose Inhalers (MDI's) provide the quickest way for medicines to enter your lungs, often, the amount of coordination necessary can cause you, the asthmatic, to not take this medicine as efficiently as possible. That's where spacers (often called holding chambers) come in. Spacers discharge your medication into a chamber where it is held for a few seconds before and while you inhale. A spacer should be used with all inhaled corticosteroids.

How to Use Your Spacer

There are several types of spacers. Your doctor will recommend which, if any, is best for you.

Inspirease - The Inspirease spacer has a reservoir bag that folds that up like an accordion when you inhale.

Aerochamber - The Aerochamber has a whistle that lets you know if you are inhaling too quickly.

Aerochamber with Mask - If you are using an Aerochamber with Mask, be sure that your mask has a proper fit.

Things to Remember

• DO NOT PUT YOUR INHALER IN WATER. Recent studies have shown no correlation between how the inhaler floats and how much medicine remains in the inhaler. Some inhalers may malfunction after being submerged. To keep track of how often to change your inhaler, see the inhalant canister calendar.
• Be sure to keep your spacer clean. Cleaning instructions are given in package inserts for each device.
• Inhale your medicine within three to four seconds of spraying it into the chamber for the best effect.