28/12/2025
Administration of Medications by Inhalation
Metered-Dose Inhaler (MDI)
• Hand-held pressurized containers deliver a measured dose of medication with each “puff.
”
• Dosing may require two “puffs”
—patient should wait 1 minute between “puffs.
”
• A spacer device may be used to increase the delivery of medication and to decrease
medication deposited in mouth and throat. Pediatric patients often require the spacer.
• Requires “hand-lung coordination”
—patient should exhale and, on beginning of
inhalation, activate the MDI.
• Patient should hold his or her breath for approximately 10 seconds after inhalation.
Dry Powder Inhaler (DPI)
• Each medication comes with a delivery system. Medication should be administered only
with delivery system provided. No aerosol propellant is used.
• Capsules and tablets are to be administered by inhalation only; medications are not to be
taken by mouth.
• Delivery system crushes medication to a fine powder to be inhaled.
• After system is loaded, teach patient to cover mouthpiece and inhale deeply.
• Compared with MDIs, medication delivery is significantly more efficient.
Small-Volume Nebulizers
• A small machine converts a medication solution to a nebulized or mist form.
• Prescribed amount of medication is added to a nebulizer cup or container and attached to
the machine.
• Determining whether a diluent needs to be added to the medication to facilitate the
delivery is important.
• Most effective method of delivery is via mouthpiece; however, medication may also be
delivered via face mask.
• When the mist begins to form at the end of mouthpiece, ask patient to seal his or her mouth
over mouthpiece and start a slow, deep breath; patient should hold his or her breath for a
short time and then exhale slowly.
• Mouth should be rinsed after treatment, and equipment should be rinsed and allowed to
dry. Do not store wet equipment.
• With inhaled steroid medications, mouth should be rinsed to prevent infections.