Nebulizers 101

There are many individuals who have been afflicted with chronic lung disorder that requires the use of a nebulizer to administer the medication. Why nebulizer one may ask? There are some disorders like asthma, cystic fibrosis or emphysema where the bronchodilator drugs have to get deep down into the terminal bronchioles for them to work. Further, these individuals either are not able to inhale the drugs all the way down or have severe disease that limits their ability to inhale. One of the ways to administer drugs more effectively in such cases is to use Nebulizers. There are a variety of nebulizers sometimes also known as atomizers or jet nebulizers.

In all nebulizers, there has to be a source of compressed air/oxygen that when released at high velocity causes the liquid medicine to turn into a vapor which is then inhaled by the patient.

For many years, nebulizer use was limited to a health care facility. For home use, patients used the metered dose inhalers. Nebulizers are very effective in providing rapid treatment for patients in respiratory distress like acute asthma or severe wheezing. The hospital based nebulizer therapy is administered by respiratory therapists of nurses. However, in the last 2 decades, lightweight and portable nebulizers have been developed for home use.

These compact nebulizers are made by many companies including John Bunn, Hudson RCI, Airlife, Allied Health, DeVilbiss etc. Some of the latest devices do not even need the use of compressed gas but use vibration or ultrasonication to breakup the liquid medicine into an aerosol.

With standard nebulizer therapy, a liquid solution is placed inside a holding cup and compressed gas is released. The aerosolized vapor is then inhaled by a mask. Nebulizers are very useful if one wants rapid relief from respiratory distress or wheezing.

With nebulizer therapy the individual does not have to take deep breath except to breathe regularly. There is no need to maintain hand and breathing coordination like when using an inhaler. With each breath the vapor is inhaled. Each treatment session can last anywhere from 5-20 minutes.

Almost all types of respiratory bronchodilator medicines can be delivered by nebulizer therapy. However, nebulizers are not for everyone. Because the machines are large, they can be cumbersome to transport everywhere. Most individuals use nebulizers either in the hospital or at home. When the respiratory condition has stabilized, the patient switches back to the inhalers. Besides treating severe asthma, nebulizers are excellent for administering bronchodilator medications in young children and the elderly who may have difficulty with the use of inhalers.

All nebulizer medications and the nebulizer machine require a physician’s prescription. All patients should remember that nebulizers are not a substitution for inhalers but a complimentary form of treatment. All nebulizers have to be cleaned regularly to ensure that the tubings are free from residual medication and secretions. Use of warm water and a cloth is sufficient to clean these devices.

For more information on nebulizers, please visit us at www.medexsupply.com