Patient was educated on how to use Metaproterenol aerosol inhaler as follows:
- Always, check the expiration date on the Metaproterenol inhaler before using it.
- Shake the inhaler well for 5 seconds before every use.
- Take the cap off the mouthpiece.
- Make sure the mouthpiece is clean before having it in the mouth.
- Hold the Metaproterenol inhaler between the thumb at the base and the index finger at the top, with the canister up and mouthpiece down. The mouthpiece of inhaler should face you.
- Perform a normal quiet breathing in and then, breath out normally away from the inhaler.
- Bring the inhaler to your mouth and place the mouthpiece in between the teeth with the chin up a little. This position of the chin will help better deposition of the medication into the airways.
- Make sure the tongue is not obstructing the mouthpiece, by having the mouthpiece over the tongue and not under.
- Close the mouth tightly around the mouthpiece.
- Breathe in slow and deep for a complete breath, for a count of 5 seconds. At the same time, activate the Metaproterenol inhaler by pressing the top of the inhaler with the index finger. Performing both these acts at the same time is a task that will help delivery of the medication to the site of action in the airways and lungs. You can use the spacer, if you have difficulty coordinating these activities.
- Withdraw the mouthpiece from your mouth and breathe out slowly.
- One activation of the Metaproterenol inhaler counts for one puff.
- Hold breath for 5 to 10 seconds giving time for the medication to be deposited into the airways, for it to act.
- If you are ordered to have two puffs as your dose, wait for a minute before taking the second puff.
- For the second puff, start with shaking the Metaproterenol inhaler for 5 seconds and repeating all the steps of the procedure throughout.
- Replace the cap on the mouthpiece of Metaproterenol inhaler, once you completed intake of your prescribed dose.
