Question: What Is a Metered Dose Inhaler?
Answer: A metered dose inhaler, or MDI for short, is a metal and plastic device that people who have asthma can use to get a specific amount of asthma medicine. It is the most common device used for both quick relief and preventive asthma medicines.
Asthma medicines are delivered either by inhaling them or taking them by mouth or needle. Inhaled medicines tend to get into the small airways better. That makes them more effective and less likely to cause side effects than meds taken orally.
A metered dose inhaler has two main parts: The metal canister that contains the medicine, and the plastic mouthpiece that the canister fits into. When you press down on the pressurized canister, it forces a measured mist of medicine out through the hole in the mouthpiece towards your throat. You then breathe the medicine droplets into your lungs.
Also, some MDIs are used with an add-on plastic tube-like device called a spacer. The spacer can make it easier for you to get the right amount of medicine with your metered dose inhaler.
More Asthma Q&A
