How to Use Spacers & Masks for People with Asthma

If you or a family member use an inhaler to treat asthma and struggle with getting the medication into your lungs, a spacer or mask might be right for you. 

How do spacers help?

Spacers look like a water bottle and hold the medication until you inhale. This lets people breathe in the medication without having to time their breath with the medication being sprayed into their mouth. This can help people get the medication into their lungs so it can work to keep the airways open. A mask fits over the mask and nose and can be an effective way for children to get the medication into their lungs.

Ask your pharmacist for a spacer or a mask.

If you think a spacer or mask can help, please talk to a pharmacy staff member at Forward Pharmacy. We provide one to you (often at no charge through your insurance) along with the training to ensure you get the most from your inhaler.

One of our UW–Madison Pharmacy School Students, Maria Ficaro, shows you how to use a spacer in the video below.