How to Use a Metered Dose Inhaler

1. Shake the inhaler.
   
2. Remove the cap.
   
3. Open mouth wide and hold the inhaler no more than 1 inch in front of your mouth. Keep your tongue relaxed and down and the teeth out of the way -A better idea is to use a spacing chamber.
   
4. Breathe out normally.
   
5. Begin to take a slow, deep breath through your mouth and squeeze (activate) the inhaler as you continue to breathe in.
   
6. Continue to breathe in until your lungs are full, then hold your breath for 10 seconds if possible.
   
7. Breathe out normally.
   
8. Wait 1 minute, and then take the second puff from the MDI in the same manner, continue in the same pattern until the total number of prescribed puffs has been taken.
   
9. Be sure to re-cap the mouthpiece when you are finished.
   
10. If the medicine you took was steroid based, be sure to rinse your mouth out and gargle after use.