Learn how to use asthma and COPD inhalers correctly to get the full benefit of your medication. Discover the most common mistakes, how to use MDIs and DPIs properly, and why technique matters more than the device.
Inhaler Mistakes: Common Errors and How to Avoid Them
When you use an inhaler, a handheld device that delivers medication directly to the lungs for conditions like asthma or COPD. Also known as a puffer, it’s one of the most effective tools for managing breathing problems—but only if you use it right. Studies show that up to 90% of people make at least one mistake when using their inhaler. That means millions are getting less medicine than they need, even when they take it every day.
The biggest inhaler mistakes aren’t about forgetting to use it—they’re about how you use it. People often breathe in too fast, don’t hold their breath after inhaling, or skip shaking the device. Some don’t use a spacer, which can double the amount of medicine reaching the lungs. Others rinse their mouth too soon after using a steroid inhaler, washing away the protection it’s meant to build. These aren’t small details—they directly affect how well your lungs get the medicine they need.
Using an asthma inhaler, a device designed to deliver bronchodilators or anti-inflammatory drugs for airway control correctly matters just as much as taking it on time. The same goes for COPD inhaler, a type of inhaler used to manage chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with long-acting bronchodilators or combination therapies. Whether you’re using a metered-dose inhaler, a dry powder inhaler, or a nebulizer, the technique changes with each. A wrong puff can mean the difference between a calm night’s sleep and an emergency room visit.
Fixing these errors doesn’t need fancy gadgets or expensive training. It just needs a few minutes to watch a real person do it right, then practice in front of a mirror. Many pharmacies offer free inhaler checks. Ask your pharmacist to watch you use yours. Bring a family member along—they might spot something you miss. And don’t assume you got it right the first time you were taught. Technique fades without practice.
Below, you’ll find real stories and clear guides from people who’ve been there: the dad who learned his daughter’s inhaler wasn’t working because she wasn’t holding her breath, the retiree who stopped wheezing after using a spacer, the nurse who discovered her own inhaler technique was off by years. These aren’t theory pieces. They’re fixes that worked.
