Patient Advice Guider

Patient Advice Guider

Eye - Drops 

1.  Wash Your Hands.
2.  Do not touch the dropper opening.
3.  Look upward.
4.  Pull the lower eyelid down to make a 'gutter'.
5.  Bring the dropper as close to the 'gutter' as possible without touching it or the eye.
6.  Apply the prescribed amount of drops in the 'gutter'.
7.  Close the eye for about two minutes. Do not shut the eye too tight.
8.  Excess fluid can be removed with a tissue.
9.  If more than one kind of eye-drop is used wait at least five minutes applying the next drops.
10.  Eye-drops may cause a burning feeling but this should not last for a few minutes. If is does   Last longer consult a Doctor or pharmacist.

Eye - Ointments

1.  Wash your hands.
2.  Do not touch anything with the tip of the tube.
3.  Tilt the head backwards a little.
4.  Take the tube in one hand, and pull down the lower eyelid with the other hand, to make a   'gutter'.
5.  Bring the tip of the tube as close to the 'gutter' as possible. 
6.  Apply the amount of ointment prescribed. 
7.  Close the eye for two minutes.
8.  Remove excess ointment with tissue.
9.  Clean the tip of the tube with another tissue.

Ear Drops

1.  Warm the ear-drops by keeping them in the hand or the armpit minutes. Do not use hot water   tap, no temperature control. 
2.  Tilt head sideways or lie on one side with the ear upward. 
3.  Gently pull the lobe to expose the ear canal.
4.  Apply the amount of drops prescribed. 
5.  Wait five minutes before turning to the other ear.
6.  Use cotton wool to close the ear canal after applying the drops only if the manufacturer     explicitly recommends this.
7.  Ear- drops should not burn or sting longer than a few minutes.

Inhalers

Aerosol Inhaler ( Metered Dose Inhalers - MDI)

1. Cough up as much as sputum as possible.
2. Take the cap off the mouthpiece by gently squeezing the sides of the cap. Make sure the mouth piece is clean.
3. Hold the aerosol as indicated in the manufacturer's  instructions; usually upside down).
4. Place the lips tightly around the mouthpiece.
5. Tilt the head backward slightly.
6. Breathe out slowly, emptying the lungs of as much air as possible.
7. Breathe in deeply and activate the aerosol, keeping the tongue down.
8. Hold the breath for ten to fifteen seconds.
9. Breathe out through the nose.
10. If you area taking second dose (puff), wait for about one minute and repeat the procedure.
11. Rinse the mouth with warm water.

Cleaning your aerosol inhaler.

Remove the metal canister, rinse the plastic holder and cap in warm water, allow to dry and replace plastic holder. Press the canister once it is back in the holder to make sure it is in place and firing correctly. You should see a fine mist.

Use of spacer devices

1. Remove cap from aerosol inhaler (MDI), hold upright and shake it.
2. Fit the MDI outlet onto the end of spacer.
3. At the end of normal breath hold the spacer mouthpiece between the lips.
4. Press the MDI and breath in slowly from the spacer. 3 to 5 inhalations per actuation are allowed.
5. If a second dose is needed, remove the spacer from the mouth and wait at least one minute.
6. The device should be washed, rinsed, and dried in air once a week (not to often) and not wiped dry as this increases the electrostatic charging of spacers.

Inhaler with capsulels

1. Cough up as much sputum as possible.
2. Place the capsule(S) in the inhaler according to manufacturer's instruction.
3. Breathe out slowly and empty lungs of as much air as possible.
4. place lips tightly around the mouthpiece.
5. Tilt head backward slightly.
6. Take a deep breath for ten to fifteen seconds.
7. Breathe out through the nose.
8. Rinse the mouth with warm water.

Source:- Patient advice guider by Chula Edrisinghe