Demystifying Dry Powder Inhaler Resistance with Relevance to Optimal Patient Care.

The selection of an inhaler device is a key component of respiratory disease management. However, there is a lack of clarity surrounding inhaler resistance and how it impacts inhaler selection. The most common inhaler types are dry powder inhalers (DPIs) that have internal resistance and pressurised metered dose inhalers (pMDIs) that use propellants to deliver the drug dose to the airways.

Adapting Inhaled Medication Practice in COPD and Asthma to Avoid Funding the Tobacco Industry.

The takeover of Vectura, a healthcare company specialising in inhaled medication, by Philip Morris International raises serious ethical concerns. The European Respiratory Society notes that "health professionals will avoid prescribing drugs from any company that enriches the tobacco industry due to the ethical implications". People with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma will also be reluctant to use medications which profit a company that is estimated to kill at least one million people every year.

Inhaler technique and training in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma.

Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are both common conditions with an increasing prevalence worldwide. Inhaled therapy for these conditions has a number of advantages over systemic therapy, including reduced side effects and quicker onset of action. The effective use of inhaled therapy is critically dependent upon the nature of the drug-delivery system and the ability of the patient to use the system correctly.