How to Pick a Nebulizer

Purchasing a nebulizer is an investment in your well being, so it's important to pick the one that will be right for your health needs and your lifestyle. There are three basic types of nebulizers: jet nebulizers, mesh nebulizers and ultrasonic nebulizers. Each works well with different types of medication and for different types of respiratory illnesses. Choosing the right nebulizer can help you to be healthier.

Things You'll Need

• Copy of your treatment plan

Instructions

1. Discuss your treatment plan with your doctor to determine how often you will be using the nebulizer and what medications he will be prescribing. The medications can affect the type of nebulizer you pick, as some medicines are contraindicated for use with certain nebulizers. For example, Pulmnicort, a very commonly used preventive anti-inflammatory medicine, cannot be used in an ultrasonic nebulizer.

2. Check with your insurance company to see what nebulizers and nebulizer equipment they will pay for. The machine is expensive and replacement parts will be an ongoing expense. Some insurance companies have "deals" with specific equipment dealers or prefer to pay for a more durable machine.

3. Examine your lifestyle. People who spend a lot of time on the go (either indoors or outdoors) or children who will need to use a nebulizer at school and at home would benefit more from a portable nebulizer. Portable nebulizers use rechargeable batteries as a power source and are typically lighter and more compact than those that rely on an AC adapter for power.

4. Pick an ultrasonic nebulizer if you need to keep treatments short. If, for example, you need to step away from your desk at work for a treatment, an ultrasonic nebulizer's 5-minute treatment would be preferable to the 15-minute variety provided by a jet nebulizer. This type of nebulizer can deliver the medicine in undiluted form as opposed to combining it with saline, thus shortening treatment duration while providing the same amount of medication.

5. Look for a child-friendly nebulizer for young children. Using a nebulizer can be a frightening experience for little ones. Knowing this, many manufacturers have developed machines that look like popular cartoon characters. They are lightweight and allow children to feel more in control of their breathing treatments.

Tips & Warnings

• Whichever nebulizer you pick, make sure the replacement parts are easily found. You will be replacing the tubing, cup and filter on a regular basis.