Advantages and Limitations of Dry-Powder-Inhalers

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Advantages Limitations of Dry Powder Inhalers

• When you think of an inhaler, you probably think
  of the conventional metered-dose inhaler (MDI).
  MDIs
• are one of the most popular inhaler types for a
  reason - it was the first truly portable and
  convenient inhaler to deliver medicine to the
  lungs effectively. Since its introduction in the
  1950s, there have been multiple types of
  portable inhalers developed, giving people a
  wider range of options when it comes to choosing
  an inhaler. Dry powder inhalers (DPIs) are one of
  these newer types of inhalers, which became
  available commercially in the 1970s and become
  significantly more popular since then. Lets
  learn more
• about dry powder inhalers and what makes them
  different.
• What are Dry Powder Inhalers?
• Dry powder inhalers are so called because they
  deliver the medicine in the form of a dry powder
  rather than the aerosol that is sprayed from
  MDIs. There are many different types of DPI
  models that vary both in how they look and how
  the medicine is loaded into them. For some
  unit-dose and multiple unit-dose DPIs, you can
  load a capsule or series of capsules which you
  can then inhale for a single dose or multiple
  doses. Theres also another type of DPI,
  reservoir devices, that contains a storage unit
  that contains the powdered medicine, a
  particular amount of which is released when its
  used. Dry powder inhalers are used for
  respiratory diseases like asthma and COPD. They
  can deliver both bronchodilators (medicines that
  relax the muscles of the airways) and
  anti-inflammatories (medicines that reduce
  swelling of the airways).
• Advantages of Dry Powder Inhalers
• DPIs are portable
• Portability is an important factor in inhalers,
  especially when it comes to inhalers that are
  required to be used daily. Just like MDIs, DPIs
  are also portable and some are even more compact.
  You can carry the DPI around with you through
  the day so you can use it as prescribed by your
  doctor.
• DPIs are easy to use
• MDIs may look like simple devices but they can be
  complex to use. They require coordination between
  inhaling and pressing to spray the medicine.
  DPIs, on the other hand, are much easier to use.
  They are breath-actuated, which means that the
  medicine is released when you inhale so no
  coordination is required.
• DPIs are convenient

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• Most DPIs come with a dose counter that makes
  them convenient to use. Some multi-dose DPIs can
  hold
• up to 200 doses so you can use them for a longer
  period of time before replacing them. They also
  dont
• require a spacer attached to it to be able to use
  it properly, unlike MDIs where a spacer might
  sometimes be necessary.
• DPIs are propellant-free
• MDIs require propellants to create the
  aerosolized spray of medicine. This is an added
  advantage as propellants have been known to be
  harmful to the environment as they contribute to
  global warming. For eco-conscious patients, DPIs
  can be a greener choice.
• DPIs effectively deliver the medicine
• DPI deposit the medicine in the lungs at a much
  higher rate than MDIs. This makes them more
  efficient and effective as they can provide a
  higher quantity of medicine with a single dose.
• Limitations of Dry Powder Inhalers
• While there are many advantages of dry powder
  inhalers, it also has some limitations. Since
  they contain dry powder, its necessary that
  they are kept in dry conditions and away from
  humidity. Depending on where you stay, DPI might
  not a good enough shelf stability for long-term
  use.
• They also deliver medicine based on how
  forcefully you breathe in and some contain a
  minimum amount
• of force required which might not be possible for
  all. Because they cant be used with a spacer,
  its also been questioned whether it can
  effectively be used for those who need a high
  volume of medicine.
• Some DPIs also contain lactose which doesnt
  usually have negative effects since its in a
  very small quantity but it can be an issue for
  those with severe milk allergies.