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Nebulizers convert a liquid medicine or a mixture of medicines from a medication cup into an aerosol mist that can be inhaled through a facemask or mouthpiece. Nebulizers are beneficial because breathing medication directly into the lungs tends to relieve symptoms faster than taking the medication orally.
There are two parts to every nebulizer setup:
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Compressor. This is a machine that uses air pressure to convert the medicine to a mist.
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Nebulizer kit. This contains a medication cup, medication, the connecting tubing and mask or mouthpiece.
Before using a nebulizer, premeasured vials of liquid medications (or prescribed doses measured in a measuring cup) are emptied into a chamber between the mask (or mouthpiece) and the tubing that connects to the nebulizer. The compressor pumps compressed air through the liquid medicine, which turns it into a fine mist.
Nebulizers are available only by prescription. A physician will work with the patient or parent to decide if nebulizer use is an appropriate option. Sympathomimetics (drugs that stimulate the sympathetic nervous system), anticholinergics and corticosteroids are all available for use in nebulizers.
Nebulizers are used to treat asthma, as well as other conditions. Nebulizer medications are often used as a short-acting bronchodilator during an acute asthma attack because they can deliver large doses of medication directly to the lungs. They are recommended for high-dose beta2 agonists and anticholinergics when asthma symptoms become severe.
Young children, the elderly and those who are seriously ill often find nebulizers easier to use than inhalers. Unlike inhalers, nebulizers do not require deep breathing or coordination between taking a breath and pressing the pump to deliver the drug.
Most patients, however, 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. The droplets of medication sprayed from an inhaler are smaller than those that come from a nebulizer. The smaller the drop, the easier it is for the medication particles to reach the tiniest air tubes in the farthest reaches of the lungs. However, some patients prefer nebulizers because the device allows them to see and feel the mist coming from the machine.
It also takes longer to deliver a single dosage of medication with a nebulizer (between five and 30 minutes) than it does to deliver a similar dosage with an inhaler. Another major difference is that inhalers are smaller and require no power source. Nebulizers, on the other hand, need to be plugged into an electrical socket or powered by batteries.
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