Spacers recommended in mild to moderate asthma

Spacer devices (used with an MDI - metered dose inhaler) are the recommended drug-delivery method of reliever medication for most mild to moderate acute exacerbations of asthma in both adults and children, and also in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In very severe life-threatening asthma, however, oxygen-driven nebulisation is recommended.

Medicine given in asthma attacks

In acute asthma attacks, high doses of inhaled bronchodilators (relievers) are used to treat the narrowing of the airways in the lungs. This medication should be given by using a metered dose inhaler (MDI) with a spacer device in most instances.

Clinical trials show spacers and nebulisers equally effective

Many clinical trials have found spacers and nebulisers to be equally effective for delivering high-dose reliever medicines for acute asthma attacks. In adults no important differences betwen the two methods have been found, while in children, those using nebulisers spent longer in the Emergency Department.

Spacers are now the recommended treatment for acute asthma, except for very severe life-threatening asthma, when oxygen-driven nebulisation is recommended.

Advantages of using a spacer

Spacers have some advantages over nebulisers:

• they are cheaper than nebulisers 
• they are not dependent on a power supply
• they are less frightening, especially for children.

Related topics

Also see: Asthma first aid and Asthma medicines and COPD

Original material provided by the Asthma Foundation of New Zealand, 2010. Edited by everybody, December 2010.