Correct Inhaler Use: How to Use Your Inhaler Right and Avoid Dangerous Mistakes

When you rely on an inhaler for asthma or COPD, correct inhaler use, the precise method of delivering medication directly to the lungs. Also known as inhaler technique, it’s not just about pressing the canister—it’s about timing your breath, holding it, and making sure the drug actually reaches your airways. Studies show that up to 90% of people use their inhalers incorrectly. That means even if you’re taking your medicine every day, you might be getting little to no benefit. It’s not your fault—most doctors don’t demonstrate it well, and the instructions on the box are often confusing.

There are different types of inhalers—metered-dose inhalers (MDIs), dry powder inhalers (DPIs), and soft mist inhalers—and each needs a different approach. With an MDI, you have to coordinate pressing the canister and breathing in slowly. If you breathe in too fast, the medicine hits your throat and you spit it out. With a DPI, you need a strong, quick breath to pull the powder loose. If you breathe too gently, nothing gets into your lungs. And if you don’t hold your breath for 5 to 10 seconds after inhaling, the drug just leaves your body before it can work. Asthma inhaler, a device designed to deliver bronchodilators or steroids directly to the lungs isn’t a magic button—it’s a precision tool. The same goes for COPD inhaler, used to manage chronic bronchitis and emphysema with targeted medication. Using it wrong can mean more flare-ups, more ER visits, and more steroids in your system than you need.

Spending five minutes learning the right way can cut your symptoms in half. Use a spacer with your MDI—it catches the mist so you don’t have to time your breath perfectly. Rinse your mouth after steroid inhalers to avoid thrush. Check your technique every six months, even if you’ve been using it for years. Your body changes. Your inhaler might have a new design. What worked last year might not work now. And don’t assume your pharmacist showed you right—you’d be surprised how many don’t know the details themselves. The posts below give you real-world fixes: how to tell if you’re swallowing your medicine instead of inhaling it, what to do when your inhaler feels empty but still clicks, why your child’s inhaler isn’t working even though they’re "doing it right," and how to choose the right device for your lungs and your life. You’re not alone in this. Thousands of people struggle with the same thing. The good news? Fixing it isn’t hard. It just takes knowing how.