nebulizers
Last reviewed 01/2018
Nebulizers are indicated in the following patients:
- where high doses of inhaled medication are required, such as acute severe asthma
- those unable or unwilling to comply with simpler inhalers
- those who require medication which is not available in metererd dose inhalers such as inhaled antibiotics
Nebulizers use compressed gas or ultrasound to produce an aerosol of the medication which is then inhaled.
The efficiency of drug delivery to the lungs is variable but is approximately 10%; for this reason nebulizers are not normally used for inhaled corticosteroid therapy.