How long should elapse between each puff with an MDI?

How long should elapse between each puff with an MDI?

• A. 15 seconds
• B. 1 minute
• C. 5 minutes
• D. 10 minutes

Answer: (B)

Spacing puffs from an inhaled metered-dose inhaler is about giving each dose time to reach the lungs and be inhaled properly. After you actuate the inhaler, you take a slow, deep breath to pull the medication into the airways, and a brief breath-hold helps maximize where the drug deposits. Waiting about a minute between puffs lets the first dose be inhaled fully and prevents the second puff from being wasted by rushing or by excessive mouth deposition. If you wait too little, you don’t get the full benefit of the second dose; if you wait too long, you delay treatment unnecessarily. So, about one minute between puffs is the recommended approach.

Spacing puffs from an inhaled metered-dose inhaler is about giving each dose time to reach the lungs and be inhaled properly. After you actuate the inhaler, you take a slow, deep breath to pull the medication into the airways, and a brief breath-hold helps maximize where the drug deposits. Waiting about a minute between puffs lets the first dose be inhaled fully and prevents the second puff from being wasted by rushing or by excessive mouth deposition. If you wait too little, you don’t get the full benefit of the second dose; if you wait too long, you delay treatment unnecessarily. So, about one minute between puffs is the recommended approach.