Respimat ® Using Your Inhaler To Prepare for First Time Use 1. Before starting, wash your hands with soap and warm water, or use anti-bacterial hand gel. This will reduce the risk of infection. 2. With the cap closed, press the safety catch while pulling off the clear base. Be careful not to touch the piercing element inside the bottom of the clear base. 3. Write the discard by date on the label of the inhaler. The discard by date is 3 months from the date the cartridge is inserted into the inhaler. 4. Take the inhaler cartridge out of the box. Push the narrow end of the cartridge into the inhaler. The base of the cartridge will not sit even with the inhaler. About 1/8 inch will be seen when the cartridge is inserted the right way. Do not take the cartridge out once it has been inserted into the inhaler. 5. Put the clear base back into place. Do not take the clear base off again. The inhaler should not be taken apart after the cartridge has been inserted and the clear base has been replaced. To Prime for First Time Use These steps are needed to fill the dosing system the first time it is used. 6. Hold the inhaler upright with the cap closed so a dose is not released. 7. Turn the clear base in the direction of the arrows on the label until it clicks (half a turn). 8. Flip the cap until it snaps fully open. 9. Point the inhaler toward the ground (away from your face). Press the dose-release button. 10. Close the cap. 11. Once you can see the spray, repeat steps 6, 7, 8, and 9 three more times to make sure the inhaler is ready for use. **These steps will not affect the number of puffs available. After you prepare and prime it for the first time, the inhaler will be able to give you the full amount of medicine. Daily Dosing 1. Hold the inhaler upright with the cap closed so a dose is not released. 2. Turn the clear base in the direction of the arrows on the label until it clicks (half a turn). 3. Flip the cap until it snaps fully open. 4. Breathe out slowly and fully, and then close your lips around the end of the mouthpiece. Do not cover the air vents. 5. While taking a slow, deep breath through your mouth, press the dose- release button and keep breathing in slowly for as long as you can. 6. Hold your breath for 10 seconds or for as long as comfortable. 7. Close the cap until you use your inhaler again. **A way to remember the steps for daily dosing is to remember T.O.P.: Turn, Open, Press. Caring for Your Inhaler Clean the mouthpiece, and the metal part inside the mouthpiece. Use a damp cloth or tissue, once a week. A small amount of staining in the mouthpiece does not effect the inhaler. When should you get a new inhaler? Your inhaler has the prescribed number of doses. The dose indicator shows about how many puffs are left. Once the dose indicator has reached the end of the red scale, all puffs have been used and the inhaler will lock. The base cannot be turned any farther. Throw away after 3 months of use and if the inhaler has locked, even if you still have solution in the cartridge. If you are a patient receiving care at UnityPoint – Meriter, Swedish American or a health system outside of UW Health, please use the phone numbers provided in your discharge instructions for any questions or concerns. Your health care team may have given you this information as part of your care. If so, please use it and call if you have any questions. If this information was not given to you as part of your care, please check with your doctor. This is not medical advice. This is not to be used for diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. Because each person’s health needs are different, you should talk with your doctor or others on your health care team when using this information. If you have an emergency, please call 911. Copyright © 1/2019 University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority. All rights reserved. Produced by the Department of Nursing. HF#7812