Asthma

What is a nebulizer? All you need to know.

This guide will discuss all you need to know about nebulizers. What is it, how is it used, and what are its benefits? 

What is a nebulizer? 

With the aid of a nebulizer, a person with asthma or another respiratory illness can swiftly and effectively deliver medication to their lungs. 

Using a face mask or mouthpiece, a person can inhale a tiny mist of liquid medication created by a nebulizer. Taking medication in this manner can reach the respiratory system and lungs where it is most required.

It consists of four parts: The nebulizer chamber, which is a small plastic container, the nebulizer machine, which is an air compressor; the length of air tubing; and the facemask/mouthpiece make up a nebulizer.

When should a nebulizer be used?

To take their regularly prescribed inhaled medications, most patients use portable inhalers. 

To cure infections or to clean your airways, you can use a nebulizer to inhale medication:

• In an emergency, paramedics or hospital workers may use a nebulizer to administer your reliever medication if you have trouble breathing and require a high dose. 

• If your disease is serious, you can't use an inhaler, or nebulized medication is more effective than an inhaler at home. 

• Suppose you have another medical problem, such as arthritis, that prevents you from using an inhaler. Babies and very young children can also utilize nebulizers.

Using a portable inhaler is usually simpler and just as effective for most people with lung diseases, particularly for persons with COPD and asthma, especially when used with a spacer. Nevertheless, if you have a lung disease like cystic fibrosis or bronchiectasis, your doctor may make arrangements for you to use a nebulizer at home. 

Why are nebulizers used? 

Nebulizers can be used to treat a variety of lung disorders, such as:

• Severe asthma

• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

• Cystic fibrosis

• Bronchiectasis

• Pneumonia 

What are the types of nebulizers? 

Most nebulizers produce the medication-containing mist utilizing air compressors. An ultrasonic nebulizer is a different type that works using sound vibrations. Nebulizers come in three types: 

1. Jet - The medication becomes a mist due to compressed air (small particles of medicine that float in the air)

2. Mesh - The drug is forced through a minute mesh to make a fine mist of medication.

3. Ultrasonic - High-frequency vibrations known as ultrasonics can transform medicine into a mist. Although it costs more, this nebulizer is comparatively quieter.

A nebulizer might be a compact, carry-around gadget or a tabletop machine that you plug in and use at home. To purchase a nebulizer, you will require a prescription from your doctor. 

What are the benefits of a nebulizer?

Nebulizers can occasionally be more advantageous than using a spacer device with a regular inhaler. First, a nebulizer's design enables high doses of medication to be inhaled all at once, which may help certain people receive more effective treatment. They can also be used for longer periods to allow more medication to reach the lungs. 

Nebulizers are frequently simpler to use. The drug contained in a nebulizer will flow continuously, unlike inhalers requiring a person to breathe in when releasing the medication. This indicates that you can breathe normally while receiving treatment. 

If you have questions regarding which nebulizer is best for you or whether it is safe for you, you should always speak with your doctor or pharmacist.

Side effects of Nebulizer

Some negative effects may occur while using a nebulizer to administer high medication dosages. The following are the most typical negative effects of using a nebulizer to provide medications:

• Rapid heartbeat

• Mild tremor

• Dry mouth

• Headaches

You should call your GP or 111 for medical advice if any symptoms persist for longer than 30 minutes or are particularly bothersome. For information on the side effects of your medication, always see the drug information sheet.

Which medicine is used in a nebulizer?

Medications like bronchodilators (like salbutamol), anticholinergics (like ipratropium bromide), corticosteroids (like beclomethasone), and regular saline are frequently used in a nebulizer.

Difference between an inhaler and a nebulizer

There are similarities between nebulizers and inhalers, such as injecting medication directly into the lungs to facilitate breathing. There are some significant changes, though. 

Metered-dose inhalers (MDI) and dry-powder inhalers are the two different types. 

For both, it's necessary to be able to breathe the medication deeply into the lungs. This might be an issue for some kids and people with severe respiratory conditions. 

Regarding medication delivery, nebulizers are a little simpler to operate. For a young child, however, using a nebulizer may be challenging because it might take up to 10 minutes for the medication to be delivered, and the user must remain motionless while inhaling the entire dose. 

Nebulizers are also less portable than inhalers; they can be cumbersome. Inhalers are typically smaller and better suited for travel.

Ways to use a nebulizer at home

An inhaler and spacer will be adequate for most people, even those with acute or severe asthma. This explains why GPs and other healthcare providers don't usually advise using a nebulizer at home. 

However, some circumstances in which using a nebulizer at home is appropriate and advantageous, provided that you are given guidelines on when and how to do so. These might consist of the following: 

• You frequently need large doses of preventer medication to manage your severe symptoms. 

• A severe asthma attack could happen, and you could need immediate access to treatment. 

You have looked into several types of inhalers and unsuccessful treatment methods. This can result from having a different medical problem, such as arthritis.