How to Use a Twisthaler

Learning how to properly use a twisthaler is important to assure asthma medicine is inhaled into the airways. A twisthaler is a dry powdered inhaler (DPI) that is an asthma treatment option for older children and teenagers. Using a dry powdered inhaler allows medicine to get deep into the lungs. These inhalers hold the medicine as a dry powder rather than delivering a puff of medicine. If you have any further questions about twisthalers, contact your doctor's office, asthma care team or pharmacy.

Video Transcript

Medicine can get deep into the lungs through a dry powdered inhaler or DPI for short.

Here’s how older kids and teens can use a DPI.

Unlike other inhalers, which deliver a puff of medicine, these inhalers hold the medicine as a dry powder. 

Since the medicine sits inside as a powder, you have to breathe in fast and deep to get the medicine into the lungs.

Think of it this way:  It’s like sucking a milkshake through a straw!

Hold the inhaler upright with the colored base on the bottom.

Hold the bottom and twist the white cap to the left, you will hear and feel a click.

Lift the cap off.

Make sure the arrow is lined up with the dose counter.  Do not shake the inhaler.

Turn your head to the side and breathe out-do not breathe into the inhaler.

Close your mouth tightly around the mouthpiece.

Breathe in fast and deep through the mouthpiece.

Suck like a milkshake!

After you breathe the medicine in, hold your breath for a count of 10. Then slowly breathe out.

Replace the cap and twist it to the right until it clicks.  The cap must be closed to load the next dose.

You may not feel or taste the medicine.

Rinse your mouth out with water or brush your teeth after using dry powdered inhalers.

Wipe the mouthpiece with a dry cloth after each use.  Always keep the dry powdered inhaler dry and never take it apart.

Remember, if you have questions, call your doctor’s office, asthma care team or pharmacy.