Using an asthma inhaler when you do not have asthma is not recommended. It will not help your breathing, and it can cause side effects such as shakiness and a racing heart. Inhalers are prescription medicines, and breathing trouble that makes you reach for one needs a proper diagnosis.
The short answer
- A reliever inhaler (usually blue) relaxes narrowed airways. If your airways are not narrowed, there is nothing for it to relieve.
- The most common side effects are feeling shaky, a faster heartbeat and headaches. These usually wear off quickly.
- Using a lot of it makes side effects more likely.
- Do not use an inhaler that was prescribed for someone else.
- If you are wheezing, coughing or short of breath often enough to want an inhaler, see your doctor.
What does an inhaler do for someone without asthma?
The most widely used reliever inhaler contains salbutamol. It is a bronchodilator, which means it relaxes the muscles around the airways so that they open up and breathing becomes easier. It is prescribed for asthma and for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
In someone whose airways are already open, the medicine has no narrowing to reverse. You get the side effects without the benefit.
What happens if you use an inhaler without asthma?
After one or two puffs of a reliever inhaler, the common side effects are:
- feeling shaky
- a faster heartbeat
- headaches
These usually pass after a short time. Serious side effects are rare, but they need medical attention straight away:
- muscle pain, weakness or cramps, or an irregular heartbeat, which can be a sign of low potassium
- a fast or irregular heartbeat that does not settle
- severe dizziness or feeling faint
- chest pain, or breathlessness that is new or getting worse
What happens if you use an inhaler too much?
Side effects become more likely the more you take. Never take more than the prescribed dose. For people who do have asthma, needing a reliever inhaler more than twice a week is a sign that the condition is not well controlled and the treatment should be reviewed.
What about steroid (preventer) inhalers?
Steroid inhalers treat inflammation in the airways. They often cause no side effects at low doses or over a short time. Taken at high doses or for a long time, steroids can cause weaker bones, more infections, raised blood sugar, raised blood pressure and eye problems such as cataracts and glaucoma. There is no reason to accept those risks if you do not have a condition that needs the medicine.
Why you should not borrow someone else’s inhaler
Wheezing, coughing and breathlessness have many causes, including asthma, chest infections, COPD and heart problems. An inhaler that happens to ease the symptom for a while can delay the diagnosis you need. A doctor can also check that the medicine is safe for you alongside any other medicines you take.
Could I have asthma?
The main symptoms of asthma are wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath and a tight chest. They tend to come and go, and are often worse at night or early in the morning.
To diagnose asthma, a doctor or nurse will ask about your symptoms, listen to your chest and arrange a breathing test. You may be asked to use a peak flow meter at home for a few weeks. If a cough is your main symptom, see our guide to conditions that start with a cough.
When to get urgent medical help
Go to your nearest emergency unit or call an ambulance if you or someone else:
- is struggling to breathe, gasping or choking
- has lips or skin turning blue, grey or very pale
- has chest pain
- is having an asthma attack that is getting worse, or is not improving with a reliever inhaler
This article is general information and does not replace advice from your own doctor. If you have breathing symptoms, make an appointment with your GP.
Medically reviewed by the ASAIPA clinical team.
