Nebulizers
Nebulizers change a liquid medicine into a fine mist that gets to your breathing tubes while you breathe normally. You use a mouthpiece or a mask to take the mist in as you breathe. Short-acting beta agonists are available in liquid form for use in a nebulizer.
Nebulizers are very easy to use and it takes about 10 minutes for one treatment. They are often used during a severe asthma attack, but they are also useful for very small children or elderly people who have difficulty using inhalers. The disadvantages are that they are too big to carry around and they can be expensive.
To use a nebulizer, do the following:
- Put the correct dose of the medicine into the cup.
- Connect one end of the tubing to the cup and the other end to the machine.
- Attach the mask or the mouthpiece to the cup.
- Put the mouthpiece between your teeth and close your lips. If using a mask, place the mask over the mouth and nose.
- Turn on the machine.
- Take slow, deep breaths until all the medicine in the cup is gone.
- Clean the medicine cup and mouth piece with warm soapy water when you're done. Rinse well. You do not need to clean the tubing.
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