10 Best Nebulizers in the Philippines 2025 | Buying Guide Reviewed by Pharmacist

Advancements in technology have led to improvements in nebulizers as well. Nowadays, you can choose among several types. While each still provides adequate treatment, you may want to check the pros and cons of each to better tailor the product to your preferences.

Essentially, you can choose between two different form factors: tabletop and handheld. As the name suggests, a tabletop nebulizer is designed for indoor use. These are often placed atop a stable, sturdy surface--perfect for children or physically-challenged people who can't hold up a portable design. In addition, these are also cheaper and have a longer warranty.

However, for those who lead a busy lifestyle, handheld nebulizers may be the way to go. Powered by batteries and having a palm-sized design, these allow you to take your medication on the go. These also work great if you want to be ready for any respiratory attacks.

Respiratory conditions affect certain areas of the respiratory tract, often categorized as the upper tract, middle tract, and lower tract. As such, it’s important to consider where your nebulizer disperses the medicine to ensure effectiveness.

For instance, diseases like rhinitis and sinusitis typically affect the upper tract, hence requiring larger particles, as these get deposited in that area. For cases like these, you want to target a nebulizer that produces particles equal to or greater than 5 microns.

Conversely, particles below 5 microns are needed to reach the lower respiratory tract. These target other common diseases such as asthma and bronchitis. However, we recommend not going lower than 1 micron, as particles of this size tend to remain in the air rather than get absorbed.

When using nebulizers, some residual droplets of medicine may get stuck inside the machine, which leads to drug wastage. This is especially true for less efficient models like jet types. Fortunately, you can reduce the amount of residue by putting a higher volume of medication at once, and for that, you need a nebulizer with a large capacity.

However, it’s important to remember not to exceed your recommended dose to avoid any side effects. A starting volume of 4 mL administered within 10 minutes of treatment has been found to be a good rule of thumb. From there, you can repeat as necessary until you meet your dosage.

Nebulizers are meant for personal use; hence, it’s important to tailor the product according to the specific behavior of the patient. For instance, seniors who have shown signs of cognitive decline may find it hard to operate complex devices. As such, they are best paired with nebulizers that have simple on-and-off buttons.

Similarly, children who get easily bored may benefit from products with faster sessions. Whatever the case, a personalized nebulizer will ensure that the patient is getting the most out of their treatments.