What should a patient do with an inhaled medication after delivering a puff via a spacer?

What should a patient do with an inhaled medication after delivering a puff via a spacer?

• A. Rinse mouth with water
• B. Inhale again quickly
• C. Remove spacer and discard device
• D. Cough immediately

Answer: (A)

After delivering a puff through a spacer, rinse the mouth with water and spit. This helps remove leftover medication from the mouth and throat, reducing the risk of local side effects like oral candidiasis (thrush) and hoarseness that can occur with inhaled corticosteroids. The spacer improves delivery to the lungs but doesn’t eliminate all medication from the mouth, so this mouth rinse step is important. Discarding the spacer after one use or coughing immediately aren’t standard steps, and inhaling again right away isn’t needed unless a second prescribed dose follows.

After delivering a puff through a spacer, rinse the mouth with water and spit. This helps remove leftover medication from the mouth and throat, reducing the risk of local side effects like oral candidiasis (thrush) and hoarseness that can occur with inhaled corticosteroids. The spacer improves delivery to the lungs but doesn’t eliminate all medication from the mouth, so this mouth rinse step is important. Discarding the spacer after one use or coughing immediately aren’t standard steps, and inhaling again right away isn’t needed unless a second prescribed dose follows.