Bear Street Pharmacy

49 Bear Street, Barnstaple, North Devon, EX32 7DB

 Tel: 0870 7662213 Fax:  01271  323878

 

 

Help With  Choosing a Nebuliser
 

Who needs to use a nebuliser?

A ‘nebuliser’ is actually the small plastic container that is filled with a medicine solution inside a complete nebulising machine like those on this web site. However, generally the machine itself is known as a nebuliser, and it is this that we refer to below A compressor (usually electric) in the machine is  used to blow air or oxygen through this solution to make a fine mist of the medicine. This mist is breathed into the lungs through a mouthpiece or mask. Some machines, the ultrasonic, do not use compressors, they actually vibrate the solution very quickly so that the solution comes away as a fine mist.

Nebulisers are most commonly used to treat severe attacks of asthma at a doctor’s surgery or in an accident and emergency department. In fact, research has shown that in most cases, multiple doses of reliever medicine through a spacer are just as effective in severe attacks of asthma, but nebulisers are used in accident and emergency departments to save staff time.

Sometimes people who have severe asthma symptoms or other lung diseases find that normal reliever- inhalers do not work for them. To help to open up the airways or deal with an attack that comes on very quickly, a doctor may prescribe nebulised reliever medicine to use at home. A very small number of
people with asthma also need to use a nebuliser to take their regular preventer-type medicine.
 

Using a nebuliser

If you have not used one before, get your hospital consultant, doctor or asthma nurse to show you how your nebuliser works. You will also need a set of written instructions on how to use your nebuliser. These should include:

 - how to set up the nebuliser
 - how to keep it clean
 - how to get it serviced
 - how to get it repaired
 - how much medicine to use
 - how to put the medicine in the nebuliser
 - when to take it and how long you should take it for
 - how to understand the warning signals that show your asthma is getting worse, even with treatment
 - what to do in an emergency.

 
There are a number of different types of electric nebulisers available:
 
- Mains 240V only – these plug into a UK mains socket.
 - Car battery – these can be plugged in, usually into the car cigarette lighter, for use when travelling.
 - Any mains voltage, or mains 110/220V .Other countries may have a different mains voltage to the UK so these can be helpful if you travel. Check with your travel agent about voltage in different countries.
 - Rechargeable battery – these contain a power supply of their own and so can be used anywhere. They need to be recharged from the mains regularly however.

NOTE: Even if a doctor recommends using a nebuliser, they cannot prescribe one on the NHS. This means that most people have to buy their own nebuliser.
 

Buying a nebuliser

1. If you do have to buy one, we sell them by mail order. You can buy a machine directly from us on-line or by telephone.

It is important that you have your nebuliser serviced regularly, so you need to look into this before you buy. Some local hospitals will do this for you even though your nebuliser is not an NHS one. Speak to your doctor or nurse. Otherwise you should speak to the nebuliser manufacturer or supplier about servicing arrangements. We offer a servicing programme, whether you buy a machine from us or not. You will need to check costs before you send the machine to us.

 
2. You should also consider the following:

- Does the price quoted include everything that is needed? Some may charge extra for postage and packing, or for parts such as mouthpieces or masks.

- Nebulisers are not automatically  exempt from VAT. However, if you are an individual who has been recommended to buy a nebuliser by your doctor, you do qualify for VAT exemption. This web site has a VAT exemption form on every nebuliser model page if you decide to buy from us on-line.
 
- Make sure you are clear about how often the compressor needs servicing and how often the filters, tubing and other parts need changing.

- How heavy is the nebuliser, what are the running costs, how big is it and how long is the warranty for?

NOTE: Although Doctors cannot prescribe electric nebulisers on the NHS   they do prescribe the
drugs to put in your nebuliser.

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