International journal of chronic obstructive pulmonary diseaseMar 14, 2009

More medicine reaches the lungs with Respimat inhaler than with HFA inhaler in COPD patients who use them poorly

Circadian Biology Weekly Brief ↗PubMed ↗

Updated Mar 28, 2026

Abstract

Whole lung drug deposition was 37% with Respimat Soft Mist Inhaler for untrained patients compared to 21% with pressurized metered-dose inhalers.

Aerosols from Respimat SMI move slower and last longer than those from pressurized metered-dose inhalers.
Inhalation technique was poor among all patients prior to training, with peak inspiratory flow rates ranging from 69 to 161 L/min.
Training led to improved inhalation profiles, including slower inhalation and longer breath-hold times.
Respimat SMI provided more efficient drug delivery to the lungs compared to pressurized metered-dose inhalers, regardless of training status.
Further improvements in lung drug deposition were observed when patients were taught to inhale slowly and hold their breath.

Simplified

Aerosols delivered by Respimat Soft Mist Inhaler (SMI) are slower-moving and longer-lasting than those from pressurized metered-dose inhalers (pMDIs), improving the efficiency of pulmonary drug delivery to patients. In this four-way cross-over study, adults with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and with poor pMDI technique received radiolabelled Berodual (fenoterol hydrobromide 50 microg/ipratropium bromide 20 microg) via Respimat SMI or hydrofluoroalkane (HFA)-MDI (randomized order) on test days 1 and 2, with no inhaler technique training. The procedure was repeated on test days 3 and 4 after training. Deposition was measured by gamma scintigraphy. All 13 patients entered (9 males, mean age 62 years; FEV1 46% of predicted) inhaled too fast at screening (peak inspiratory flow rate [IF]: 69-161 L/min). Whole lung deposition was higher with Respimat SMI than with pMDI for untrained (37% of delivered dose vs 21% of metered dose) and trained patients (53% of delivered vs 21% of metered dose) (P(Sign-Test) = 0.15; P(ANOVA) < 0.05). Training also improved inhalation profiles (slower average and peak IF as well as longer breath-hold time). Drug delivery to the lungs with Respimat SMI is more efficient than with pMDI, even with poor inhaler technique. Teaching patients to hold their breath as well as to inhale slowly and deeply increased further lung deposition using Respimat SMI.

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More medicine reaches the lungs with Respimat inhaler than with HFA inhaler in COPD patients who use them poorly

Abstract

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