:: Section 4
Advantages
DPIs are small and portable devices. It requires short preparation and administration time. Compared to the MDI, the DPI has the following advantages.
- No need for hand-breathing coordination because it’s breath activated
- Inspiratory hold is not required
- Full inspiration is easier because there is no "cold, Freon effect"
- It’s simple to count the remaining drug doses
Disadvantages
Still, the DPI has its disadvantages.
- Only a limited varity of drugs are available to date
- Patients are not as aware of the dose inhaled as with an MDI and may distrust delivery
- Some patients may not be able to have high inspiratory flow rates needed to enable successful powder dispersion
- The high flow velocity may result in relatively high oropharyngeal impaction and deposition. If so, there is a high dose loss
- Single-dose DPIs must be reloaded before each us
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