A nebulizer is a medical device that turns liquid medicine into mist or aerosol that you inhale directly into your lungs. Medications used to treat respiratory conditions such as asthma, cystic fibrosis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are sometimes given via a nebulizer machine.
Nebulizers include a container to hold liquid medicine, an air compressor to generate airflow and turn the liquid into mist, and a mouthpiece or mask. They can be easier to use than inhalers for some people, including young children and people with severe respiratory conditions. This is because they do not require a specific breathing technique: you simply breathe normally into the mouthpiece or a mask.1
Learn more about types of nebulizers, who might benefit from using them, and how to use and clean them.
Types of Nebulizers
Nebulizers can be plug-in or battery-operated. A tabletop machine is a bit larger and needs to be plugged into an electrical outlet or car adaptor. A battery-operated machine is smaller and more portable, making it a more convenient choice for use outside your home.2
Nebulizers come in three main types: jet, mesh, and ultrasonic. Each type works differently and has advantages and disadvantages.3
Jet Nebulizer
A jet nebulizer is the most commonly used nebulizer. It uses an air compressor to convert liquid medicine into mist or aerosol. Jet nebulizers are usually available in two different forms:3
- Conventional: This nebulizer produces a continuous mist of medication. It requires a higher dose of medication because most of the medication is lost during exhalation (breathing out).
- Breath-actuated and breath-enhanced: These nebulizers only generate mist during inhalation (breathing in). As a result, it delivers most of the medication to your lungs with minimal waste.
Ultrasonic Nebulizer
An ultrasonic nebulizer uses high-frequency vibrations to transform liquid medication into aerosol form. This type of nebulizer is much quieter than a jet nebulizer.3
Ultrasonic nebulizers cannot convert dense liquid into aerosol droplets. Therefore, you would not use this type of nebulizer to administer suspensions.3 A suspension is a type of medication in which the drug does not fully dissolve, leaving small particles of the drug floating in the liquid. Antibiotics, like Amoxil (amoxicillin), and some medications used to treat epilepsy are examples of suspension medications.4
Mesh Nebulizer
A mesh nebulizer uses a mesh, or screen with tiny holes, to transform liquid medication into a fine mist. Mesh nebulizers administer medication more efficiently than jet and ultrasonic nebulizers, and they operate silently. They’re also generally more portable.3
Who May Need a Nebulizer
Nebulizers can help treat chronic respiratory conditions such as:1
- Asthma: A condition that causes inflammation of the lungs and airways, causing episodes of wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and difficulty breathing
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD): A group of conditions in which lung damage restricts airflow and causes difficulty breathing
- Bronchiectasis: A condition in which lung bronchi—tubes that serve as the main passageway to the lungs—widen and loosen, causing breathing problems
- Cystic fibrosis: A genetic condition that causes thick, sticky mucous to clog the lungs and affect breathing
Many people with these conditions use nebulizers to take medications, including:5
- Bronchodilators: A class of medications that relax and widen airway muscles in the lungs
- Corticosteroids: A class of medications that help prevent inflammation of the lungs and airways
- Antibiotics: A class of medications that can help fight bacterial infections
- Sterile saline solution: A mixture of salt and distilled water that can help break up mucous
Nebulizers can also administer multiple medications at once.6
Nebulizers might be used in conjunction with or instead of inhalers. An inhaler is a small, handheld device that delivers medication through a spray mist you breathe in. Nebulizers may be easier to use than inhalers, especially for young children. An inhaler requires learning a specific breathing technique, while a nebulizer only requires breathing normally.2 However, they take longer than inhalers, which might be challenging for very young children.
Nebulizers can also be helpful for people who have a difficult time using inhalers due to arthritis.1
You typically need a nebulizer prescription from a healthcare provider, but most insurance plans cover it. Even if you can purchase the machine over the counter, you will need a prescription for the medications.