Getting What You Need from Medications
Correct administration of asthma medications is crucial in order to achieve the desired asthma control. For example, all metered-dose inhaler medications (also known as puffers) should be taken with a spacer device, most commonly a cylinder with a mouthpiece or mask for young children at one end and a rubber fitting at the other end that tightly surrounds the top of the metered-dose inhaler. The spacer acts as a holding chamber that gives your child time to slowly inhale her medicine when the inhaler is used — while preventing that medication from escaping into the air. In turn, the spacer will lower the amount of medicine that is deposited onto the back of her throat while increasing the amount that goes to her lungs.
It is important to receive instructions on the use of a spacer before using it with a medication, but it is easy enough that even infants can take the medication in this manner. Children will be able to inhale more medication with the use of the spacer than if they use the metered-dose inhaler on its own.
Once your health care provider has prescribed medication for your child, be sure you are clear on the following items:
When do you give the medication? Should your child take it before a meal, before bedtime, when she feels symptoms coming on, before exercise?
How should the medication be timed with other medications? If using both a rescue and a controller medication, for instance, can they be used at the same time or should she wait until a specified time?
What side effects should be reported immediately? Some conditions, possibly a drop in blood pressure or nausea, may require that you call your health care provider immediately.
How will you know when and if the medication is working? While the results are more obvious with a quick-relief medication, it sometimes may take days or weeks to spot changes with the longer-term control medications.
What side effects should you report with a follow-up visit? These conditions, such as headache, skin rashes, or nervousness, might indicate to your health care provider that a change in medications or strengths is needed.
What side effects could your child expect from taking the medication? Some medications, when inhaled, may leave an aftertaste or could cause conditions such as a sore throat, hoarseness, coughing, or even thrush, a yeast infection of the mouth. Check with your health care provider about tips to prevent some of these side effects.
How should a medication be prepared? What special directions (such as priming an inhaler or preparing an oral syrup) should you keep in mind before using the medication?
What should you do if your child misses a dose? Should your child take the medication as soon as she can, or wait until the usual time before she takes it?
Could this medication interact with others? If your child is taking a supplement or over-the-counter medication, check to see if it conflicts with the medication.
To make medication use a little easier, and to help your health care provider assess its effectiveness, consider using an asthma diary to record when medication is given and when side effects occur. It can be as simple as recording data in a notebook or on a calendar.
For more information on medications your child might be prescribed, you can view the online database that is part of the National Library of Medicine of the National Institutes of Health at
