What should you know about a purple puffer for asthma?

Puffer is a common term for a handheld inhaler. Purple devices can contain different medicines depending on the manufacturer and market. The medicine may be intended to prevent airway inflammation, relieve narrowed airways, or combine treatment roles. The label and prescription are more useful than the casing colour.

Asthma symptoms can include cough, wheezing, chest tightness and breathlessness. A puffer should not be used to self-diagnose asthma, because similar symptoms may have other causes, including Allergic Rhinitis or Chronic Cough.

Ask a clinician or pharmacist to watch your technique. Breathe out before the dose, create a good seal around the mouthpiece, breathe in as directed for that device and follow any instruction about holding your breath. A spacer may help some people using a pressurised inhaler.

Use the puffer at the prescribed times and keep a written plan for flare-ups. Do not borrow a puffer, double doses or replace one device with another without professional advice. Check remaining doses and store the device as instructed.

Get emergency help for severe breathlessness, difficulty speaking, blue or grey lips, confusion, collapse or symptoms that continue to worsen despite following your reliever plan. Stay upright and use the action plan while waiting. A clinician may consider Nebuliser Treatment in an acute setting, but home treatment should not delay urgent assessment.

Ask which medicine is in the puffer, which symptoms it targets, how quickly it should work, whether a spacer is needed, how to clean it and what signs mean that you need urgent care.