Do you have asthma or another respiratory condition? If so , your doctor may have given you an inhaler . But today we are talking about a slightly different type of inhaler. That is the dry powder inhaler, or as we call it, a Dry Powder Inhaler ( DPI ). Today, we will talk simply and clearly about how to use this type of device called Diskus ®.
What is a Dry Powder Inhaler (DPI)?
Simply put, this is not like the puffer you are used to. This one contains the medicine, in the form of a very fine powder. The medicine goes into your lungs when you breathe in through this device. That is, it does not automatically expel the medicine. You have to take a good, deep, and steady breath to inhale the medicine. This is the main difference between this type of inhaler.
Let's learn about the Diskus® inhaler
The Diskus® is a small, round, handheld device that can contain medications commonly known by brand names such as Advair®, Flovent®, and Serevent®.
Here are some special things about this:
- 60 doses: One Diskus® contains 60 doses.
- Dose Counter: One of the biggest advantages of this is that with each dose you take, the counter decreases by one digit, making it easy to keep track of how much medicine is left.
- Red warning: The counter shows the numbers 5 to 0 in red . This is a reminder to you that “your medicine is almost gone, get a new one soon.” When the counter reaches “0,” there is no more medicine left. You should throw away the old one and start using a new Diskus®.
How do I use Diskus® correctly?
Remember these steps carefully. Doing this exactly is very important to get the full benefit of the medication.
| Steps | What you need to do is simple. |
|---|---|
| 1. Open Diskus | Hold the Diskus in one hand and place the thumb of the other hand on the thumb grip. Now push it in as far as it will go. You will hear a 'click' sound and the mouthpiece will appear. |
| 2. Preparing the dose of medicine (Load) | Hold the Diskus flat and parallel to the ground. Now push the lever you see forward until you hear a 'click'. This action releases a dose of medicine into the mouthpiece. At the same time, the number on the dose counter decreases by one. |
| 3. Breathe Out | Very important: Turn your head away from the Diskus and exhale as much air as possible from your lungs. Never breathe into the Diskus. Doing so may wet the medicine. |
| 4. Inhale the medicine | Now place the mouthpiece of the Diskus in your mouth and close your lips tightly. Now take a slow, deep, and steady breath in. Breathe in until your lungs are completely full. |
| 5. Hold Breath | Take the Diskus out of your mouth and hold your breath for about 10 seconds . This gives the medicine time to settle in your lungs. |
| 6. Exhale & Close | Now exhale. Wipe the mouthpiece with a clean cloth, and then pull the thumb grip back to its original position with your thumb. The Diskus will then close. |
| Special Notice | |
| If it contains steroids | If you have a steroid medication in the Diskus that your doctor has prescribed, rinse your mouth thoroughly with water after taking the medication, gargle, and spit out the water (do not swallow). This can help prevent mouth and throat infections. |
Remember, if your doctor tells you to take another dose of medication, you need to repeat the steps above in the same way.
How do I care for Diskus®?
For your inhaler to work properly, you need to take good care of it.
- Store in a dry place: Always store at room temperature, in a dry place. Do not store in places with high humidity, such as the bathroom.
- Do not put in water: Never wash or put in water. Doing so will cause the medicine powder to stick together and not work properly.
- Don't shake it: You don't need to shake it like a 'puffer'. Also, don't shake it or drop it after preparing the dose.
- Do not use a spacer: Do not use a spacer with the Diskus.
"I don't feel like I'm taking the medicine, do I?"
This is a problem that many people have. When you take this medicine, you may not feel any taste or sensation at all. Or you may feel a very subtle sweet taste. This is normal. Don't think, 'Oh, I don't know if the medicine worked.' The steps you mentioned aboveIf done correctly, the entire dose of medicine will go into your lungs. Don't doubt that.
Take-Home Message
- Diskus® is a dry powder inhaler. It is not a 'puffer' that you inhale the medicine.
- The medicine goes in when you breathe deeply and steadily.
- Always check the dose counter. It can help you keep track of how much medicine you have.
- Follow the steps: open, push the lever, breathe out, breathe in, hold your breath, close.
- If your inhaler contains steroids , always rinse your mouth and spit out the water after taking the medication.
- Do not wet, shake, or blow on the Diskus.
- If you have any questions or doubts about this, be sure to talk to your doctor and resolve those issues.
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