A pharmacist with a large social media following has issued a simple three-word reminder to anyone using a steroid inhaler: rinse and spit. The advice is aimed at reducing the risk of side effects such as a sore throat, a croaky voice, and an oral infection known as thrush.
Raj Patel, known online as Pharmacist Health Raj, explained that a small amount of medicine can remain in the mouth after using a steroid inhaler. Rinsing the mouth with water and spitting it out afterward helps lower the chance of these complications.
Why the step matters
Patel said: "After (taking) your steroid inhaler, rinse and spit. Here's why that little step really matters. This applies to inhalers that contain steroids. A little of the medicine stays in your mouth after you use them. So, afterwards, rinse your mouth out well with water and then spit it out. That helps reduce the chance of a sore throat, a croaky voice, and an infection in your mouth called thrush."
He also advised that inhalers differ, so users should check the leaflet or ask their pharmacist to show them what their specific inhaler requires. He urged people to keep using their inhaler as prescribed, not to stop suddenly, and to check the leaflet for instructions.
Inhaler use in the UK
More than two million people in the UK use inhalers for conditions including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), chronic bronchitis, and respiratory infections. Inhalers are used to prevent inflammation, relax airway muscles, or deliver specialised medications. NHS prescribing data suggests that just over half of all inhalers used contain steroids, which reduce swelling and mucus production.
There are three main types of inhaler: pressurised metered dose inhalers (pMDI), dry powder inhalers (DPI), and soft mist inhalers (SMI). Some combination inhalers contain two or more different types of medicine. A pMDI often comes with a spacer, a plastic tube that helps ensure the right amount of medicine is delivered. Spacers are not needed for DPI or breath-actuated inhalers.
Nebulisers are different
Nebulisers, while similar to inhalers, are different devices. A nebuliser is a machine mainly used in hospitals that changes liquid medicine into a fine mist, breathed in through a face mask or mouthpiece. Most people do not need a nebuliser, and they are primarily used in hospitals to treat severe asthma attacks. A nebuliser should only be used at home if prescribed by a doctor.
