- DOI:
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https://doi.org/10.4414/smw.2015.14162
Peer reviewed clinical letter
Vol. 145 No. 3132 (2015)
Stop using the flotation technique and start weighing salbutamol pressurised metered-dose inhalers without dose counters
- Ermindo R. Di Paolo
- Stéphanie Spaggiari
- André Pannatier
- Farshid Sadeghipour
- Isabelle Rochat
- Gaudenz M Hafen
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Cite this as:
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Swiss Med Wkly. 2015;145:w14162
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Published
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26.07.2015
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.
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