- What does my inhaler do?
- How do I know which inhaler is right for me?
- How do I know if I'm using my inhaler in the best way?
- How do I know when my inhaler is empty?
- Can I use an expired inhaler?
- Do inhalers have side effects?
- Why do some inhalers contain steroids?
- What if I forget to take my steroid preventer inhaler?
- What happens if I only use my reliever inhaler?
- What happens if I use my reliever inhaler too often?
- Can I use my inhaler with other medicines?
- How do I get a new inhaler?
- How do I get an emergency inhaler?
- Can I get help with my prescription costs?
What does my inhaler do?
Inhalers help you breathe your medicine into your lungs, where it's needed. Inhalers are mainly used to treat asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). They help you manage your asthma and COPD symptoms.
Some inhalers, called combination inhalers, contain two or more different types of medicine. If you have a combination inhaler, you might still have other separate inhalers.
How do I know which inhaler is right for me?
Your GP or nurse will help you find the right inhaler.
There are three main types of inhaler:
- pressurised metered dose inhaler (pMDI)
- dry powder inhaler (DPI)
- soft mist inhaler (SMI).
When your GP or nurse prescribes you a new inhaler, they should tell you the type you have.
They'll consider:
- the type of medicine you need
- the dose of medicine you need
- the type of inhaler you prefer
- how easy it is to use
- if you need an inhaler with a dose counter
- how the carbon footprint compares to other inhalers.
They'll also tell you:
- the type of medicine in your inhaler
- how your inhaler works
- when you should take your inhaler
- the correct way to use your inhaler - this is called the inhaler technique.
You can ask your GP or nurse to write down what medicines you have and when you should take them in your asthma action plan or COPD self-management plan.
If you do not think your inhaler is right for you, tell your GP or nurse. They can check you're using your inhaler properly and whether there's a different type that would be better for you.
Do I always need to use a spacer with my inhaler?
If you have a pMDI (pressurised metered dose inhaler), a spacer helps make sure the right amount of medicine gets to your lungs.
Spacers hold your medicine in place until you breathe it in. You might find this helpful if you find it hard to breathe in at the right time when you use your inhaler.
You do not need to use a spacer with a DPI (dry powder inhaler) or SMI (soft mist inhaler).
What is the difference between an inhaler and a nebuliser?
Inhalers and nebulisers both help deliver medicine to your lungs, but they do this differently:
- a nebuliser is a machine mainly used in hospital. It changes liquid medicine into a fine mist. You breathe this mist in through your mouth using a face mask or mouthpiece. There are not many types of medicine that can be used in nebulisers.
- an inhaler is a handheld device that delivers the medicine as a spray or powder.
Most people do not need a nebuliser. Nebulisers for asthma are mainly used in hospitals to treat a severe asthma attack, rather than at home.
You should only use a nebuliser at home if you have a prescription from your doctor.
How do I know if I'm using my inhaler in the best way?
If you're using your inhaler with the right inhaler technique, you should notice:
- fewer symptoms
- fewer, or no, asthma attacks or COPD flare-ups
- you react less to your usual triggers
- you sleep better
- you can exercise or take part in other activities.
It can take some time and practice to find the right way to use your inhaler. If you're finding it hard to use, speak to your GP, nurse or pharmacist. They can show you how to use your inhaler and check your technique.
We also have some useful videos and tips to help you use your inhaler correctly.
How do I know when my inhaler is empty?
It can be hard to tell when your inhaler is empty. Even when there's no medicine left, an empty pMDI (pressurised metered dose inhaler) can still 'puff'. This might be a type of gas called a propellant, not the medicine you need.
- Some inhalers have a dose counter on the side. This tells you how many doses are left in your inhaler.
- Some DPIs (dry powder inhalers) have an indicator that changes colour when your inhaler is empty.
If your inhaler does not have a dose counter, you could write down how many doses you use each day in a diary or on your phone.
To help you tell when your inhaler is empty, follow these steps:
- Read the instruction leaflet, or ask your healthcare professional, how many doses are in your inhaler when it's new.
- Add up how many doses, or puffs, you take every day.
- Divide the total number of puffs in your inhaler by the number of puffs you take a day. This will give you the number of days your inhaler will last for.
For example, if your inhaler contains 200 puffs and you take four puffs every day, your inhaler should last for 50 days (200 divided by four = 50).
If you find it hard to track your doses, ask your GP or nurse about changing your inhaler to one with a dose counter.
Can I use an expired inhaler?
You should not use your inhaler after its expiry date. This is because the medicine will not work as well to treat your symptoms.
The expiry date is usually on the side of the metal canister, label or box.
Try to request a new prescription before your inhaler is empty or out-of-date.
When your inhaler is empty or out-of-date, take it to your local pharmacy. They should dispose of it safely and in the best way for the environment.

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In an emergency, call 999 for medical advice and tell them you do not have an inhaler with you, or that your inhaler is out-of-date
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Do inhalers have side effects?
Inhalers are generally safe to use, but like any medicine, you may have some side effects.
Some side effects are 'common'. This means that people report having these side effects more than others. These side effects are different depending on which inhaler you have.
Speak to your GP or nurse if you're worried about the side effects of your inhaler. They can review your medicines to make sure you're on the lowest dose to help your symptoms.
Read more about the potential side effects of different types of inhalers, including preventer inhalers and reliever inhalers.
Find out more about possible side effects of your inhaler
The information leaflet for your inhaler lists all the possible side effects that people with a lung condition, and healthcare professionals, report to the Yellow Card Scheme. This is run by the MHRA (Medicines & Healthcare products Regulatory Agency).
Why does my inhaler make my heart beat faster?
Some inhalers, including reliever inhalers (short-acting bronchodilators) and LABA inhalers (long-acting beta-2 agonist), contain a type of medicine called a bronchodilator.
Bronchodilators open your airways and help you breathe more easily.
If you use your inhaler more than normal or your dose increases, you might:
- get a headache
- feel shaky
- have a faster heartbeat than normal.
These side effects usually get better over time.
If your symptoms do not improve, or you need to take your reliever inhaler more than three times a week, speak to your GP or nurse. This can be a sign that your lung condition is not well-controlled, and they may suggest changing your preventer medicine.
Can steroids in my preventer inhaler affect my body?
Inhalers are the best way to get medicine directly to your lungs. Using a good inhaler technique helps to lower the risk of any inhaled steroids getting into the rest of your body.
If your inhaler is a pMDI (pressurised metered dose inhaler), using a spacer will also help.
Most people will not have any side effects, but using a high dose of inhaled steroids for a long time can slightly increase your risk of:
- thinning skin
- bruising
- diabetes
- osteoporosis - this is a condition that weakens bones. You can get lots of information and support from the Royal Osteoporosis Society.
These are called systemic side effects because they affect the whole body.
If you're worried about any side effects, speak to your GP or nurse for advice.
Why do some inhalers contain steroids?
Steroids in your preventer inhaler are inhaled corticosteroids (ICS). They're a copy of steroids that your body naturally makes.
They work by reducing inflammation in your airways to help prevent asthma attacks and COPD flare-ups.
They're not the same as the muscle growth (anabolic) steroids that some people take to improve their physical performance.
Your GP will prescribe the lowest possible dose of steroids that will keep your symptoms under control.
Read more about the steroids that are used to treat asthma.
What if I forget to take my steroid preventer inhaler?
If you forget to take a dose of your preventer inhaler, take it as soon as you remember. But if it's nearly time for your next dose, skip the one you missed.
Each use of your inhaler is one dose of medicine.
Do not take two doses to make up for the one you forgot.
What happens if I only use my reliever inhaler?
If you have a reliever inhaler for asthma, you must also have a steroid preventer inhaler. This is because if you only use a reliever inhaler, you're more likely to have symptoms and asthma attacks.
Because reliever inhalers do not contain steroids, they cannot treat the inflammation in your airways. All they do is help push your airways open when your symptoms flare-up, rather than treating the cause.
Taking your steroid preventer inhaler every day helps to prevent inflammation and reduce your risk of symptoms and asthma attacks.
What happens if I use my reliever inhaler too often?
Using your reliever inhaler too often can cause some side effects, including feeling shaky, a faster heartbeat than normal and a headache. Rarely, you may have more serious side effects.
Speak to your GP, nurse or pharmacist if you have side effects that do not go away, or you need to use your reliever inhaler more than twice a week.
This is a sign that your lung condition is not well-controlled, and you may benefit from changing your preventer medicine.
Can I use my inhaler with other medicines?
When taken together, some medicines, including herbal and alternative remedies, can interact with each other. This means one medicine may affect how the other one works. Or they may increase your risk of side effects, including an asthma attack.
If you have asthma, some medicines can make your symptoms worse, including:
- aspirin and some beta-blockers
- some over-the-counter medicines, including ibuprofen.
Your GP or nurse can monitor you and explain the benefits and risks of using your inhaler with medicines for other conditions.
Always talk to your GP, nurse or pharmacist before taking any new medicines.
LAMA (long-acting muscarinic receptor antagonist) inhalers
LAMA inhalers contain a type of medicine called anticholinergics. They help to open your airways and make it easier for you to breathe.
LAMA inhalers can interact with other anticholinergic medicines and increase your risk of side effects.
Some common anticholinergic medicines that can interact with LAMA inhalers include:
- medicines used to treat an irritable bladder
- some antihistamines, antidepressants and antipsychotics
- some medicines used to treat Parkinson's disease.
How do I get a new inhaler?
It's important to order a new inhaler before your current one is empty. You can talk to your GP or pharmacist about the best way to order a new inhaler.
You may be able to use the NHS App to order medicines that you use regularly. But not all medicines are available as a repeat prescription, including some reliever inhalers.
This is because your GP or nurse will want to check that your inhaler is working for you and that you're using it properly at your next review. If you're using a new type of inhaler, your GP, nurse, or pharmacist can also show you the best way to use it.
Your GP surgery will usually send your new inhaler to your local pharmacy to collect.
How do I get an emergency inhaler?
Call your GP surgery or use the 111 online service to request an emergency prescription for an inhaler.
Your local pharmacy can prescribe a temporary emergency supply of your medicine, including a single inhaler.
The NHS has more information about how to get an emergency prescription for an inhaler.
Can I get help with my prescription costs?
If you live in Northern Ireland, Scotland or Wales, your NHS prescriptions are free.
If you live in England and you're worried about how to pay for your medicines, talk to your GP, nurse or pharmacist.
- You may be eligible for free NHS prescriptions. This includes children under 16 years old and adults over 60 years old.
- Buying a prescription prepayment certificate (PPC) may save you money. Check if you can get free prescriptions before you apply for a PPC.
Do not miss any doses to try to make your medicine last longer. This can increase your risk of symptoms and flare-ups of your lung condition.
Find out more about getting help with the costs of your medicines.

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