Nebulizers break down liquid medicine into an aerosol mist that patients inhale through a facemask or mouthpiece. Like inhalers, nebulizers deliver medication directly to the lungs.

Nebulizer delivery requires two components:

• Compressor. Breaks down the medication into tiny particles and powers the nebulizer.
  
  
• Nebulizer. This contains the medication cup which houses the medication, tubing and a mask or mouthpiece through which the medication travels before reaching the patient’s mouth and traveling into the patient’s lungs.

Patients inhale the medicine mist with regular breaths. A single treatment takes between five and 30 minutes to complete. Sympathomimetics (drugs that stimulate the sympathetic nervous system), anticholinergics, bronchodilators and corticosteroids are medications delivered by nebulizers.

Nebulizers are available only by prescription. Most patients will find the use of a nebulizer to be unnecessary. Studies have shown that inhalers are as effective as, or more effective than, nebulizers in delivering medicines.

However, some patients find nebulizers easier to use than inhalers, especially infants, children, the elderly and those in the midst of an asthma attack. Nebulizers do not require the hand-breath coordination necessary when using an inhaler. A physician will work with the patient or parent to decide if nebulizer use is an appropriate option. Some people use both nebulizers and inhalers.