Stop using the flotation technique and start weighing salbutamol pressurised metered-dose inhalers without dose counters

Salbutamol pressurised metered-dose inhalers (pMDIs) are not equipped with dose counters outside the USA. The aim of this study was to describe a simple reproducible method for determining the number of doses remaining in a pMDI based on scale weight. With a laboratory scale, the mean weight of th...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Swiss Medical Weekly
Main Authors: Ermindo R. Di Paolo, Stéphanie Spaggiari, André Pannatier, Farshid Sadeghipour, Isabelle Rochat, Gaudenz M Hafen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SMW supporting association (Trägerverein Swiss Medical Weekly SMW) 2015-07-01
Subjects:
pressurised metered-dose inhalers
dose counter
Online Access:https://www.smw.ch/index.php/smw/article/view/2051
Description
Summary:Salbutamol pressurised metered-dose inhalers (pMDIs) are not equipped with dose counters outside the USA. The aim of this study was to describe a simple reproducible method for determining the number of doses remaining in a pMDI based on scale weight. With a laboratory scale, the mean weight of the canisters was 28.61 ± 0.10 g after priming and 14.84 ± 0.23 g after 200 puffs. Similar results were obtained with two common digital scales. We recommend weighing salbutamol canisters on a common digital scale, and replacing an old pMDI with a new one when the weight falls to ≤15 g.
ISSN:1424-3997

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