Prescription Medications

Many Make Mistakes with Asthma Medication

Researchers questioned 50 children with asthma and their parents on their understanding of inhaler use and the methods they use to assess medication levels in the inhaler.

The study found that 78 percent of the children and parents knew they were supposed to shake the inhaler before use. But only half actually shook the inhaler when they were asked to demonstrate how they use it.

Seventy-two percent of the study participants said they thought the inhaler was empty when it didn't make a puffing sound when they used it. But the researchers found this approach was inaccurate. The number of audible puff sounds in each inhaler was much higher than the number of doses listed by the manufacturer. That means the patients continue to use the inhaler after it had no more medication in it.