Advantages and disadvantages of different inhaler devices
| Device | Advantages | Disadvantages |
| “Press and breathe” pMDI | Compact | Contains propellants |
| Portable | Not breath-actuated | |
| 100+ doses | Many patients cannot use it correctly (e.g. coordination difficulties, “cold Freon” effect) | |
| Convenient | Usually low lung deposition/high oropharyngeal deposition | |
| Quick to use | ||
| Relatively cheap | ||
| Cannot contaminate contents | ||
| Breath-actuated pMDI | Compact | Contains propellants |
| Portable | “Cold Freon” effect | |
| 100+ doses | Usually low lung deposition/high oropharyngeal deposition | |
| Convenient | ||
| Quick to use | ||
| Breath-actuated (no coordination needed) | ||
| Cannot contaminate contents | ||
| “Press and breathe” pMDI plus spacer | 100+ doses | Contains propellants |
| Quick to use | Not very portable or convenient | |
| Easier to coordinate | Not breath-actuated | |
| Tidal breathing often OK | Plastic spacers may acquire static charge | |
| Less oropharyngeal deposition | ||
| Usually higher lung deposition than a pMDI | ||
| DPI | Compact | Work poorly if inhalation is not forceful enough |
| Portable | Many patients cannot use them correctly (e.g. capsule handling problems for elderly) | |
| Convenient (multi-dose devices) | Most types are moisture sensitive | |
| Quick to use | ||
| Breath-actuated (no coordination needed) | ||
| Usually higher lung deposition than a pMDI | ||
| Do not contain propellants | ||
| Respimat® Soft MistTM Inhaler* | Compact | Not breath-actuated |
| Portable | Not currently available in most countries | |
| Multi-dose device (1 month's supply) | ||
| Convenient | ||
| Probably easier to use correctly than pMDI | ||
| High lung deposition | ||
| Does not contain propellants |
pMDI: pressurised metered-dose inhaler; DPI: dry powder inhaler. *: manufactured by Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH & Co. KG, Ingelheim, Germany.