Which is the Best Nebulizer for Home Use?
Respiratory illness is on the rise in the US with over 25 million cases of asthma, over 9 million cases of chronic bronchitis, and more than 3 million cases of emphysema.1 With these diseases come unexpected episodes of shortness of breath, which can be alarming. Nebulizers have become critical in bringing relief when it is needed most. But with so many nebulizers to choose from, how do you know which is the best choice for you?
What Does a Nebulizer Do?
Nebulizers deliver liquid medicine in vapor form, which allows the medication to enter more quickly into the lungs and rapidly reduce symptoms, such as shortness of breath. Minimizing respiratory illness symptoms quickly allows anyone with these diseases to get back to normal life and activities without interruption. Nebulizers deliver this medicine via a mouthpiece or a mask and rely on a built-in power supply or a rechargeable battery.
What Makes the Best Nebulizer?
We’ve reviewed the most important features of current nebulizers on the market. Here are the top 4 things to consider prior to any nebulizer purchase.
Price
Nebulizers can range in price from $29.00 to $205.00 depending on the features you need. Have a clear budget in mind, as well as a list of must-have features.
Medication Delivery
Some respiratory diseases require a higher dose of medication and your nebulizer needs to deliver. Make sure that the medication reservoir can accommodate the higher dosage of medicine.
Treatment Time
The faster a nebulizer can deliver a treatment, the sooner you can get back to daily activities without delay. Most of our nebulizers offer treatment in 5 minutes or less.
Portability
Thanks to slimmer profiles and rechargeable batteries, portable nebulizers have been growing in popularity. These devices offer a lot of the same features as traditional at-home nebulizers in a much smaller package.
Top 3 Nebulizers of 2020
FLYP Nebulizer: Portable Vibrating Mesh Nebulizer
The Portable Flyp Nebulizer weighs only 0.25 lbs and delivers whisper-quiet treatment in less than 5 minutes. The magnetic mouthpiece and reservoir easily detach for cleaning, and the device can slip into your pocket for treatment on the go. Flyp uses vibrating mesh technology to turn liquid medicine into an ultra-fine mist for deeper penetration into the lungs.
Price: $190
Medication Delivery: 6 mils of medication
Treatment Time: A full dose in 5 minutes
Portability: smaller and lighter than a smartphone
Philips Respironics InnoSpire Go Portable Mesh Nebulizer
The Philips Respironics InnoSpire Go also uses vibrating mesh technology to deliver fast, effective treatments. InnoSpire Go’s rechargeable lithium ion battery provides users with up to 30 treatments on a single charge (two hours of treatment). Patients also have the option of using a mask to receive treatment.
Price: $210.00
Medication Delivery: 2.5 mils of medication
Treatment Time: a full dose in 4-5 minutes
Portability: weighs only 4 ounces
Philips Respironics InnoSpire Essence Compressor Nebulizer System
The InnoSpire Essence is a home nebulizer that uses a compressor to deliver medication to the user. It features a simple design, using fewer parts than other home units, making it easy to clean. The InnoSpire Essence is easy to store, and weighs only 3 lbs, making it easy to provide treatment from any room in the house.
Price: $29.00
Medication Delivery: 8 mils of medication
Treatment Time: a full dose in 5-7 minutes
Portability: N/A
Side by Side Nebulizer Comparison
Using a score of 1-10, with ten being the highest, we rated the top 3 nebulizers by key features.
| FLYP Nebulizer: Portable Vibrating Mesh Nebulizer | Philips Respironics Innospire Go Portable Mesh Nebulizer | Philips Respironics InnoSpire Essence Compressor Nebulizer System | |
| Price | 8 | 7 | 10 |
| Medication Delivery | 7 | 5 | 8 |
| Treatment Time | 9 | 9 | 7 |
| Portability | 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Total Score | 34 | 30 | 30 |
Choosing the Best Home Nebulizer
While the FLYP is a portable nebulizer it scores high for treatment time and medication delivery comparable to home nebulizers. With the added plus of portability, the FLYP is worth the slightly higher cost.
If you need help selecting a nebulizer for home use, speak to our expert customer care team. They are here to help. Give us a call at 866-414-9700 or email us at questions@thecpapshop.com.
Reference:
- Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. Access June 2020.