Breathing medicines and devices
Respiratory care can involve different inhalers, devices and schedules. Bring each device and your action plan, if you have one, so we can help with directions, technique questions and refills.
Medication support
Bring the current medicines, devices, records or instructions connected with your question, along with recent changes and what you most want to understand.
What to know
Different inhalers can have different preparation, breathing, cleaning and storage steps. Bring the actual devices, prescription labels and the instructions you were given so questions can be addressed accurately.
Follow the asthma or COPD action plan from your care team. Ask promptly if the instructions are unclear, your device changes or you are using a reliever more often than your plan expects.
Call 911 for severe or rapidly worsening shortness of breath, difficulty speaking, blue or grey lips or skin, confusion or another breathing emergency.
Inhaler and device support
Having the actual inhaler, spacer and current action plan makes technique, cleaning, storage and refill questions easier to answer.
Inhaler questions and continuity
Prepare inhaler-use, spacer, cleaning, storage, refill and medication-review questions.
Explore Asthma & COPDBefore a conversation
Before you make a change
Use this page to prepare questions, not to start, stop or change prescribed treatment. Call 911 for an emergency.
Content updated August 26, 2026.