Using your inhaler (puffer) properly is important when you have asthma or COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease).

This short video shows you how to use a HandiHaler.

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A HandiHaler is used mainly with one medication:

• Spiriva (tiotropium)

Checklist of steps

1. Open cap
2. Open mouthpiece
3. Remove capsule from blister and place in chamber
4. Close mouthpiece until it clicks
5. Press green piercing button in once and release
6. Breathe out gently away from mouthpiece
7. Put mouthpiece between teeth without biting and close lips to form good seal
8. Breathe in slowly and deeply, so capsule vibrates
9. Continue to breathe in as long as comfortable
10. While holding breath, remove inhaler from mouth
11. Breathe out gently away from mouthpiece
12. Put mouthpiece back between teeth without biting and close lips to form good seal
13. Breathe in slowly and deeply again, so capsule vibrates
14. Continue to breathe in as long as comfortable
15. While holding breath, remove inhaler from mouth
16. Breathe out gently away from mouthpiece
17. Open mouthpiece and remove used capsule
18. If an extra dose is needed, repeat steps 3 to 17
19. Close mouthpiece and cap

Your inhaler will come with instructions in the package. Always check the package insert for any specific instructions.

Common problems

• Piercing the capsule several times or not piercing the capsule at all
• Not breathing in strongly enough to draw the medication out of the inhaler
• Not taking a second breath to receive the full dose from the capsule
• Swallowing the capsule instead of inhaling it through the HandiHaler
• Not using a new capsule for each dose

Tips

• If you sometimes have trouble getting your inhaler open when it's new, ask your pharmacist to work the cover back and forth a few times to loosen the hinge when you collect it
• Always close the inhaler after use

Getting the most out of your inhaler

Ask your doctor, pharmacist or asthma & respiratory educator to:

• Explain how your inhaler should be used
• Check you are using your inhaler properly
• Tell you where to find the expiry date on your inhaler
• Show you how to check if your inhaler is empty or nearly empty
• Discuss any unwanted effects from your medication
• Explain how to clean your inhaler and spacer (if you have one).

Using your inhaler: other inhaler types

• Standard MDI (puffer)
• Standard MDI (puffer) and spacer
• Accuhaler
• Autohaler
• HandiHaler
• Turbuhaler

Content Updated November 18, 2008