:: Section 5
Advantages and Disadvantages
Why are we using a nebulizer in therapy? There are several advantages, including
- It is applicable to more varieties of drug solutions
- It has the ability to aerosolize drug mixture (more than one drug) as long as testing of drug activity is done to ensure no interference
- Minimal coordination for inhalation is needed
- It can be used in very young or very old, debilitated patients or those in acute distress
- It works with low inspiratory flows or volumes
- Breath-hold is not required for efficacy
- Drug concentration can be adjusted if desired
Meanwhile, there are also disadvantages of a nebulizer that we should be aware of
- The equipment can be expensive and cumbersome
- For traditional nebulizers, treatment times are somewhat lengthy compared with other types of inhalers and other routes of administration
- With inadequate cleaning, medicine can be easily contaminated
- The spray is wet and cold
- An external power source is needed, either electricity or compressed gas, making it less portable
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