Spacers

What is a spacer?

A spacer is a device that helps to slow down the medication delivered from an inhaler (MDI or metered dose inhaler). This improves the delivery of the medication deep into the lungs. Without a spacer, the medicine sprays directly into your child’s mouth and throat, settling there and preventing it from getting to the lower airways. Giving a medication through an inhaler with a spacer is the most effective way of delivering an inhaled medication.

Spacers can be used with a mouthpiece or a mask. Children under age 5 years typically will require a mask on their spacer because they may not be capable of following instructions to make a good seal around the mouthpiece if no mask is available. When your child is old enough to use a spacer with a mouthpiece, she should switch over as the medication is more effectively delivered through a mouthpiece.

How to use a spacer with a mask

Step 1 - Shake it!

Shake the inhaler. The inhaler should have a canister (metal medication tube) inside the plastic holder (this is the red, orange, blue, yellow, purple or green plastic tube).

Step 2 - Insert inhaler into spacer

Insert plastic inhaler into rubber end of the spacer.

Step 3 - Hold mask over mouth and nose

This should create a good seal over your child’s airways optimizing the inhalation of the medication when administered.

Step 4 - Give the medicine

Hold the mask over your child’s face with one hand and press the canister on the spacer with the other. Allow your child to breathe for 10-15 seconds or 6-8 breaths. These can be normal breaths. For larger children or adults, they should take one deep breath and hold their breath for 10-15 seconds after each puff. Be careful to breathe in slowly, otherwise the medication may not be effectively delivered. Some spacers have a whistle that sounds if breathing in too fast. If your child needs to take more than one puff of the medicine repeats step 3 and 4.

Step 5 - Rinse mouth out

Inhaled corticosteroids (a common asthma medication) can lead to irritation or even the development of thrush if your child doesn’t rinse your child’s mouth out. We recommend rinsing your child’s mouth or having them brush their teeth following each use of their inhaler.