How To Use A Turbo-inhaler

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW:

A turbo-inhaler is a hand-held container of medicine that sprays medicine into your throat and lungs. The medicine helps prevent asthma attacks. It is also called a whirlybird (wer-lee-bird) inhalation (in-huh-la-shun) device or spinhaler. You must use your turbo-inhaler correctly so the medicine will go into the throat and lungs to do the most good. If you use it wrong, the medicine will end up on your tongue or in the back of your mouth. Follow your caregiver's advice about how often to use the turbo-inhaler. Never use more than 4 medicine capsules (pills) a day.

AFTER YOU LEAVE:

• How do I use my turbo-inhaler? The following steps will teach you how to correctly use a turbo-inhaler. Ask for the Drug Leaflet for more information about your inhaled medicines.
  
  
  • Wash your hands with soap and water. Rinse and dry your hands.
    
    
  • Some turbo-inhalers come preloaded. Other turbo-inhalers must be loaded with a capsule of medicine for each dose. If you must load your turbo-inhaler, unwrap one medicine capsule so it is ready to use. Do not handle the capsule too much because it can get soft. Do not unwrap the capsules until you are ready to use them. Leaving the capsules unwrapped makes them break down so the medicine may not help you.
    
    
    • Hold the turbo-inhaler so the mouthpiece is on the bottom facing you. Slide the sleeve all the way to the top.
      
      
    • Open the mouthpiece by unscrewing its tip counterclockwise. Inside you will see a small propeller on a stem.
      
      
    • Firmly press the colored end of your medicine capsule into the center of the propeller.
      
      
    • Gently but tightly screw the device back together until it clicks.
      
      
    • Slide the sleeve all the way down to poke a hole in the capsule. Then slide the sleeve back up again. This releases the medicine. Do this step only once for each capsule.
    
    
  • Hold the mouthpiece of the turbo-inhaler 1 to 2 inches away from your mouth (about 2 to 3 finger widths). Exhale (breathe out) as much air as you can.
    
    
  • Place the mouthpiece in your mouth and close your lips loosely around it. Do not block the opening with your teeth or tongue.
    
    
  • Inhale (breathe in) quickly and deeply one time to fill your lungs.
    
    
  • Hold your breath as you count to 10, if you can. This lets the medicine reach deeply into your lungs. Take the mouthpiece away from your mouth.
    
    
  • Exhale slowly through puckered lips (like blowing on a trumpet). Never exhale through the mouthpiece.
    
    
  • Inhale and exhale, as described above, 2 to 3 more times until all the medicine in the turbo-inhaler is gone.
  
  
• After using the turbo-inhaler:
  
  
  • Rinse your mouth and gargle with water. Do not swallow the water. This lessens the amount of medicine left in your mouth and throat. Gargling also lessens the burning you feel in your throat and lessens the need to cough. Rinsing and gargling may also keep you from getting a mouth infection.
    
    
  • Rinse the mouthpiece with warm water. Dry the turbo-inhaler completely before putting it away.

CONTACT A CAREGIVER IF:

• You have any of these problems after using the turbo-inhaler:
  
  
  • Sore or scratchy throat or chest.
    
    
  • Coughing or choking.
    
    
  • Nasal congestion (stuffy nose).
    
    
  • Dizziness, headache, or nausea (upset stomach).
  
  
• You have a fever.
  
  
• You have questions or concerns about your illness, medicine, or how to use your turbo-inhaler.

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The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.