An emergency inhaler (rescue inhaler) gives quick relief during sudden breathing trouble. Most rescue inhalers contain a short-acting bronchodilator such as albuterol (salbutamol). They relax airway muscles and open airways in minutes, so you can breathe easier while you get to treatment.
Know when to use it: if you feel sudden wheeze, chest tightness, trouble breathing, or breathing faster than normal. Use your inhaler at the first sign of these symptoms—don’t wait until you’re gasping. For planned triggers like exercise, doctors may advise a pre-dose 10–15 minutes before activity.
Shake the canister for 5 seconds, breathe out fully, put the mouthpiece between your teeth and seal with your lips, start a slow deep breath in and press the canister once, keep breathing in slowly for 3–5 seconds, hold your breath for up to 10 seconds, then breathe out slowly. If you’re told to take a second puff, wait 20–60 seconds and repeat the steps. If using a spacer, attach it first and press the canister into the spacer once per puff—spacers help get more medicine into the lungs.
Typical adult dose is 1–2 puffs every 4–6 hours as needed, but follow your doctor’s instructions. Do not exceed the maximum recommended doses on the label without medical advice. Overuse can cause rapid heartbeat, tremors, or low potassium.
Call emergency services or go to the ER if: symptoms don’t improve after 3–4 puffs, breathing is getting worse, you can’t speak full sentences, lips or face turn blue, or you feel faint. Also seek emergency care if you need your rescue inhaler more often than usual (for example, more than twice a week for asthma symptoms) — this suggests poor control and a need to adjust long-term treatment.
Practical tips: carry your inhaler everywhere and keep a spare in a different bag or at work. Check the expiry date and canister contents—many inhalers have dose counters. If your inhaler has no counter, track doses by marking a calendar when you start a new one. Store it at room temperature and avoid freezing or very hot cars.
For kids and older adults, use a spacer with a mask if they struggle to coordinate breathing and pressing the canister. Always review an action plan with your clinician so caregivers know when and how to give the inhaler.
If you’re unsure whether an inhaler is right, ask your doctor about a written asthma or COPD action plan and a prescription for a rescue inhaler plus any needed maintenance inhalers. Knowing how and when to use an emergency inhaler saves breaths—and lives.
A quick note on maintenance inhalers vs rescue inhalers: rescue inhalers act fast and stop attacks; maintenance inhalers (like inhaled corticosteroids or long-acting bronchodilators) lower inflammation and must be used daily. Keep both if your doctor prescribes them and have your inhaler technique checked at least once a year. When you travel, carry your prescription and a brief doctor’s note, avoid smoke and strong perfumes, and get a yearly flu shot regularly.
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