An asthma nebulizer changes asthma medication from a liquid to a mist, which makes the medicine easier to inhale. Home nebulizer therapy helps to deliver asthma medicines to infants and small children and to anyone who is unable to use asthma inhalers with spacers.

You will need a prescription from your doctor for a nebulizer. Nebulizers are usually covered by your health insurance policy. Check with your insurance company before purchasing or renting to ensure it will be covered. Your health care team should be able to help you with arrangements to obtain a nebulizer through your insurance company.

 

To use a nebulizer, follow these steps:

1. Wash your hands thorougly before using the nebulizer.
2. Use a clean nebulizer. To keep your nebulizer clean:

Every day:

• Take apart the nebulizer after using. Wash all parts (except tubing and finger valve) in liquid dish soap and water. Rinse with water.
• After washing the nebulizer shake off any excess water.
• Reattach the nebulizer pieces and tubing to the air compressor and turn on the compressor to dry the nebulizer quickly. Make sure the nebulizer is completely dry before storing the nebulizer.

Every other day:

• Soak all parts of the nebulizer (except mask, tubing and interuptor) for 30 minutes to 1 hour in a solution of 1 part distilled white vinegar and 3 parts hot water. The solution should be fresh. Remove the parts from the vinegar solution and rinse them in water. Discard the solution.
• Shake off any excess water.
• Reattach the nebulizer pieces and tubing to the air compressor and turn on the compressor to dry the nebulizer quickly. Make sure the nebulizer is completely dry before storing the nebulizer.

3. Measure the correct dose of medicine prescribed by your doctor. Add these to the nebulizer.
4. Connect the air tubing from the compressor to the nebulizer base. A finger valve may also be attached between the nebulizer base and tubing. Make sure all connections fit snugly.
5. Attach a mouthpiece to the nebulizer.
6. Turn the compressor on and check the nebulizer for misting. When using a finger valve, cover the air hole to force the air to the nebulizer.
7. Put the mouthpiece in your mouth between your teeth and close your lips around it. Hold the nebulizer in an upright position.
8. Gently breathe out.
9. To start the mist, cover the hole in the finger valve with a finger. If you are not using a finger valve, the nebulizer will continually mist.
10. As the mist starts, breathe in slowly and deeply over three to five seconds, while keeping your finger over the valve hold.
11. At the end of a deep breath, uncover the finger valve hole to stop the mist.
12. Hold your breath for up to ten seconds. This allows the medicine time to deposit in the airway.
13. Resume normal breathing.
14. Continue these steps until the nebulizer begins to sputter.

 

If you are using a mask with your nebulizer or giving your child a treatment with a mask:

1. Hold the mask to the face so both the nose and mouth are covered. You may secure the mask  to the head with an elastic band.
2. Turn the compressor on to start the mist. Hold the head upright to correctly position the nebulizer and open the airway.
3. Assure deep breathing throughout the treatment.
4. Continue these steps until the nebulizer begins to sputter.