Handihaler
Handihaler
Checklist of steps
Common problems
Source
National Asthma Council Australia 2013
Checklist of steps
- Open cap
- Open mouthpiece
- Remove capsule from blister and place in chamber
- Close mouthpiece until it clicks
- Press green piercing button in once and release
- Breathe out gently away from mouthpiece
- Put mouthpiece between teeth without biting and close lips to form good seal
- Breathe in slowly and deeply, so capsule vibrates
- Continue to breathe in as long as comfortable
- While holding breath, remove inhaler from mouth
- Breathe out gently away from mouthpiece
- Put mouthpiece back between teeth without biting and close lips to form good seal
- Breathe in slowly and deeply again, so capsule vibrates
- Continue to breathe in as long as comfortable
- While holding breath, remove inhaler from mouth
- Breathe out gently away from mouthpiece
- Open mouthpiece and remove used capsule
- If an extra dose is needed, repeat steps 3 to 17
- Close mouthpiece and cap
Common problems
- Piercing the capsule several times or not piercing the capsule at all
- Not breathing in strongly enough to draw the medication out of the inhaler
- Not taking a second breath to receive the full dose from the capsule
- Swallowing the capsule instead of inhaling it through the HandiHaler
- Not using a new capsule for each dose
- If you sometimes have trouble getting your inhaler open when it's new, ask your pharmacist to work the cover back and forth a few times to loosen the hinge when you collect it
- Always close the inhaler after use
Source
National Asthma Council Australia 2013