Asthma: Using a dry powder inhaler

What is a dry powder inhaler?

A dry powder inhaler delivers medicine in the form of a fine powder. It lets you breathe medicine into your lungs quickly. Dry powder inhalers are breath-activated. This means that when you breathe in through the inhaler, the inhaler releases the medicine into your lungs.

Dry powder inhalers come in different shapes and sizes. The way you put (load) medicine in the inhaler depends on the type of inhaler you have. Some dry powder inhalers come with medicine already loaded inside. With other dry powder inhalers, you put the medicine in the inhaler each time before you use it. Your doctor or pharmacist will tell you how to load the medicine into your inhaler.

Test Your Knowledge

1. When you use a dry powder inhaler, the medicine is released into your lungs right away.

1. True
2. False

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Author:	Maria G. Essig, MS, ELS	Last Updated: May 8, 2008
Medical Review:	Caroline S. Rhoads, MD - Internal Medicine Ken Y. Yoneda, MD - Pulmonology
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