Learn the 8 essential steps to use your inhaler correctly and ensure medication reaches your lungs. Avoid common mistakes that reduce effectiveness and increase side effects for asthma and COPD.
Correct Inhaler Use: How to Get the Most from Your Respiratory Medication
When you use an inhaler, a handheld device that delivers medication directly to the lungs for conditions like asthma or COPD. Also known as a puffer, it’s one of the most common tools for managing breathing problems—but only if you use it right. Studies show that up to 90% of people don’t use their inhalers correctly. That means even if you’re taking the best drug on the market, you might be getting less than half the benefit—or none at all. It’s not about the brand or the price. It’s about timing, breathing, and technique.
There are two main types: metered-dose inhalers (MDIs), which spray a puff of medicine, and dry powder inhalers (DPIs), which you breathe in through the mouth. Each works differently. With an MDI, you need to press the canister and breathe in slowly at the same time. With a DPI, you take a fast, deep breath to pull the powder in. Mistake either step, and the medicine lands in your mouth or throat instead of your lungs. That’s why you get a sore throat or hoarse voice—because the drug isn’t doing its job where it’s needed. Using a spacer with an MDI helps, especially for kids or older adults, and it’s often overlooked.
Correct inhaler use isn’t just about technique. It’s about consistency. Do you rinse your mouth after using a steroid inhaler? Do you shake the canister before each puff? Do you check the counter to know when you’re running out? These small habits make a big difference. And if you’re unsure, don’t guess. Watch a video from your pharmacist, ask your nurse to watch you use it, or record yourself. Most people think they’re doing it right until they see the mistake on camera.
People with asthma or COPD often end up in the ER because their inhaler didn’t work—not because the drug failed, but because the delivery did. The right technique can prevent hospital visits, reduce steroid doses, and improve daily life. You don’t need a degree in medicine to get it right. You just need to know the steps, practice them, and keep checking. Below, you’ll find real-world guides from people who’ve been there: how to handle inhalers with other meds, what to do when you’re in a rush, how to teach a child, and why some inhalers are harder to use than others. These aren’t theory pieces. They’re fixes for real problems.