Nursing 101: Interval between 2 different inhalers?

Published

Specializes in OB Labor & Delivery/PP/Nursery/Hospice.

wow! this seems like a very simple question but sometimes the fine details are not clearly recalled. especially when you get to be as old as i am.

i have a question regarding inhalers. what is the proper time interval wo wait between giving two different inhalers? i remember learning 5 minutes but is this wrong? has it changed?

thank you for your kind responses. i feel like this is something i should just know. but in teaching a new nurse, i want to get it absolutely right.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in psych. rehab nursing, float pool.

I hope someone has the exact answer, I usually first ask my patient how long do they wait at home between use of two inhalers both scheduled for the same time. Many of them tell 5-10 min, some have said they wait an hour.

For my daughter. It does not say on his how long to wait in between. So I have simply reminded her one is as needed for so called attacks and the other one is scheduled twice a day therefore there should not be a reason to use them at the same time.

I look forward to an exact answer.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ER, ICU,.

No wait. Just give bronchodilator first (slow deep breath and hold) take a few breaths, then give steroid. rinse mouth

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in OB, NICU, Nursing Education (academic).

Give the beta adrenergic (such as Proventil) first. Wait about 5 minutes. This allows the drug to open the airways allowing for better distribution of the glucocorticoid (Vanceril, Beclovent), which would follow.

Use a spacer, and remember to rinse the mouth after the corticosteroid.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in OB Labor & Delivery/PP/Nursery/Hospice.

You are ALL so very awesome. This is the best resource I have ever found during my nursing career. Thank you to everyone!

~J

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Shoot...I should know this too. I'm pretty sure that in LTC (where regs are all wacked) it is 15 minutes between different meds. I'm about 100% sure it is 5 minutes in between each puff.

Yeah, right!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in CV.

I just finished my first semester of nursing school, and we were taught to give at least 1-2 minutes between breaths and between different inhalers. If using multiple inhalers, use the short acting first. Hope this helps:wink2: Never said 5 minutes, just 1-2.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Geriatrics.

I work in LTC and our policy is 1 minute between puffs of same inhaler and 5 minutes between different inhalers.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Hi I am currently in my first year of nursing school and I found in my Pharmacology book under principles of drug administration correct use of metered-dose inhaler that if a second dose is required wait 1-2 minutes and repeat procedure, if a glucocorticoid inhalant is to be used with a bronchodilator wait 5 minutes before using the inhaler containing the steroid. This is to allow enough time for the bronchodilator to sufficiently open the airways for better absorption of the other medicine. :)

P.S. I realize this answer is a couple of years after the question has been posted but I thought it may be useful to another looking up the same question.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion