Trudell Medical International
July 20, 2011
Prescribing the Most Appropriate Inhaler Device for Your Patient
There are over 230 different drug/device combinations for inhaled therapy for respiratory conditions available in Europe.1 This can make it difficult to know which device is most appropriate for your patient.
A task force from the European Respiratory Society (ERS) and the International Society for Aerosols in Medicine (ISAM) have collaborated to develop a consensus statement which includes clear concise steps for healthcare providers when selecting the most appropriate aerosol delivery device for their patients.
According to the task force, the choice of device to be used with a specific drug should be based on whether the patient can and will use it correctly.2 Patients should use one type of device for all of their inhaled therapies if possible as different devices require different inhalation techniques.
Correct inhaler technique is critical for effective inhalation therapy. Devices which provide reassurance to patients and their physicians that inhalation is performed correctly should help to improve patient compliance and asthma control.3 The AeroChamber Plus* Flow-Vu* Chamber incorporates a number of features such as the Flow-Vu* Inspiratory Flow Indicator which help provide assurance that inhalation has been performed correctly.
The task force also highlighted the fact that some Metered Dose Inhalers (MDIs) are licensed for use with specific Valved Holding Chambers. The AeroChamber* Brand of Valved Holding Chambers are mechanically compatible with all commonly prescribed MDIs and are the most recommended by MDI companies.4
The consensus guidelines emphasized the importance of repeated training and review of patient’s inhaler technique. Please reference our website for easy to use, multi-language patient instructions for the AeroChamber Plus* Flow-Vu* Chamber or other tools such as our animated instructional video to assist you in counselling your patients.
1 Lavorini F et al. Retail sales of inhalation devices in European countries: So much for a global policy. Respiratory Medicine (2011) 105, 1099-1103. 2 Laube BL et al. ERS / ISAM Task Force Report: What the pulmonary specialist should know about the new inhalation therapies. Eur Respir J 2011; 37: 1308-1331. 3 Crompton GK et al. The need to improve inhalation technique in Europe: A report from the Aerosol Drug Management Improvement Team. Respiratory Medicine 2006;100:1479-1494. 4. Nycomed (Alvesco†), Boehringer Ingelheim (Atrovent†), Chiesi Ltd (Fostair†), IVAX Pharmaceuticals (Airomir†, Qvar†), AeroPharm GmbH (Sabumalin†) GlaxoSmithKline (Seretide†, Ventolin†, Flovent†), Merck Canada Inc. (Zenhale†) in select countries
A task force from the European Respiratory Society (ERS) and the International Society for Aerosols in Medicine (ISAM) have collaborated to develop a consensus statement which includes clear concise steps for healthcare providers when selecting the most appropriate aerosol delivery device for their patients.
According to the task force, the choice of device to be used with a specific drug should be based on whether the patient can and will use it correctly.2 Patients should use one type of device for all of their inhaled therapies if possible as different devices require different inhalation techniques.
Correct inhaler technique is critical for effective inhalation therapy. Devices which provide reassurance to patients and their physicians that inhalation is performed correctly should help to improve patient compliance and asthma control.3 The AeroChamber Plus* Flow-Vu* Chamber incorporates a number of features such as the Flow-Vu* Inspiratory Flow Indicator which help provide assurance that inhalation has been performed correctly.
The task force also highlighted the fact that some Metered Dose Inhalers (MDIs) are licensed for use with specific Valved Holding Chambers. The AeroChamber* Brand of Valved Holding Chambers are mechanically compatible with all commonly prescribed MDIs and are the most recommended by MDI companies.4
The consensus guidelines emphasized the importance of repeated training and review of patient’s inhaler technique. Please reference our website for easy to use, multi-language patient instructions for the AeroChamber Plus* Flow-Vu* Chamber or other tools such as our animated instructional video to assist you in counselling your patients.
1 Lavorini F et al. Retail sales of inhalation devices in European countries: So much for a global policy. Respiratory Medicine (2011) 105, 1099-1103. 2 Laube BL et al. ERS / ISAM Task Force Report: What the pulmonary specialist should know about the new inhalation therapies. Eur Respir J 2011; 37: 1308-1331. 3 Crompton GK et al. The need to improve inhalation technique in Europe: A report from the Aerosol Drug Management Improvement Team. Respiratory Medicine 2006;100:1479-1494. 4. Nycomed (Alvesco†), Boehringer Ingelheim (Atrovent†), Chiesi Ltd (Fostair†), IVAX Pharmaceuticals (Airomir†, Qvar†), AeroPharm GmbH (Sabumalin†) GlaxoSmithKline (Seretide†, Ventolin†, Flovent†), Merck Canada Inc. (Zenhale†) in select countries