Use & Care of Spacer

A spacer or holding chamber is a device that attaches to a metered dose inhaler. It holds the medicine in its chamber long enough for the patient to inhale it in slow deep breaths. The spacer makes it easy to use the medicines the right way (especially if a child is young or patient can not coordinate between pressing the inhaler and breathing). A spacer helps prevent coughing while using an inhaler. It will also help protect the patient from getting a fungal infection in mouth (thrush) when taking inhaled corticosteroids. Unless patient uses the inhaler in the correct way, much of the medicine may end up on the tongue, on the back of the throat, or in the air. Use of a spacer or holding chamber can solve this problem.

There are two types of spacers or holding chambers are available in our country -

1. Large volumetric spacers and

2. Mini Aerochambers.

Commercilly available models of these spacers are : Uptech Spacer, Respochamber, Ventichamber etc.

How to use a Spacer (advice for patient)

1. Attach the inhaler to the spacer or holding chamber as explained by your doctor or by using the directions that come with the product.
2. Shake well.
3. Press the inhaler to release the medicine. This will put one puff of the medicine in the holding chamber.
4. Place the mouthpiece of the spacer in between your lips and inhale slowly. (A facemask may be helpful for a young child.)
5. Hold your breath for ten seconds and then exhale.
6. Repeat steps 4 and 5 atleast one more time.
7. If your doctor has prescribed two puffs, wait between puffs for few seconds and repeat steps 3, 4 and 5.

Cleaning

Separate the chamber in parts, rinse the parts in water with mild detergent and reassemble after drying. Clean it once in a month.