HOW ASTHMA MEDICATIONS CAN BE EFFECTIVELY DELIVERED? IHHALATION METHOD – SPACE INHALERSSpace inhaler device is an aid that makes using an inhaler easier. It is essentially a chamber like aid that attaches to the inhaler, or the MDI, and holds the aerosol produced by a metred-dose inhaler (MDI) before it is inhaled into the lungs.This chamber performs two major functions:1. The aerosol remains inside the space chamber for some time, therefore, the larger particles from the MDI settle down on the walls of the chamber and do not unnecessarily go into the mouth or the throat;2. It increases the distance between the MDI emission nozzle and the mouth of the patient, because of which the finer particles of the mist penetrate into the distal airways.Many type of space inhaler devices are available. Spacehaler is perhaps the most scientifically designed spacer device. It has been seen that larger pear-shaped spacers generally give better results than the smaller spacers.Generally, one brand of space inhaler can be attached with inhaler of another company. But in some cases the nozzle of the spacer device is shaped in such a manner that it fits only to a particular brand of MDI. Hence, while purchasing a space inhaler, one should ensure that the MDI and the spacer device fit properly.For infants and children who are under five years of age, there is often a problem of hand-mouth-lung coordination. Even then it has been seen that space inhalers improve the bronchodilator response in children who are unable to use MDIs effectively.Other benefits of using a space inhaler include: 1. Space inhaler is easy to hold in the right position. It allows children to inhale the medicine without coordinating a puff with a breath. 2. It helps, more medicine to get to the small airways where it works more effectively.3. It reduces the after taste of the medicine. 4. It reduces the possible adverse effects of the medicine.*73\260\8*