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Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine logoLink to Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine
. 1980 Nov;73(11):776–779. doi: 10.1177/014107688007301105

Simple instructions for using pressurized aerosol bronchodilators1

Stephen P Newman, Demetri Pavia, Stewart W Clarke
PMCID: PMC1437930  PMID: 7241435

Abstract

Although the manufacturers of pressurized aerosol bonchodilators issue instructions for using the inhalers, little or no experimental verification exists. Bronchodilatation has been measured after controlled inhalations of 500 μg terbutaline sulphate given in a systematic series of investigations to 8 patients with reversible airways obstruction at 2 different inhalation flow rates (25 1/min and 80 1/min), 3 different lung volumes (20%, 50% and 80% vital capacity) and followed by 2 different breath-holding pauses (4 and 10 seconds). The results indicate that patients may release the aerosol at any time during the course of a slow deep inhalation which should be followed by 10 seconds of breath-holding. This will ensure an optimal bronchodilator response.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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