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Breathing Problems: Using a Metered-Dose Inhaler
Diseases affecting the lungs—such as asthma, emphysema, chronic bronchitis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)—share many of the same medicines. These medicines are often delivered through a metered-dose inhaler (MDI).
Key points
Using an MDI:
- Delivers most of a measured dose of medicine directly to your lungs.
- Can help keep your symptoms under control and minimize long-term damage to your lungs.
- May prevent or reduce side effects of the medicine.
- May let you use less medicine than is found in a pill but get the same effect.
- May result in the medicine working faster than a pill form.
What is a metered-dose inhaler?
Why should I use a metered-dose inhaler?
How to use a metered-dose inhaler
Where to go from here
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| By: | Healthwise Staff | Last Revised: May 4, 2010 |
| Medical Review: | E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine Ken Y. Yoneda, MD - Pulmonology | |
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