I have had a nebulizer for a few decades now, starting with a huge bulky 13 pound creature. While I have a more modern version of the "desktop" machine for occasional home use, I now travel with a portable one.
The one I have is an
Omron Microair [
https://omronhealthcare.com/products/microair-nebulizer-neu22v/ ]. It weighs 6 oz, fits in your hand, and runs on AA batteries [convenient when traveling because if the batteries need replacing pretty much anywhere you can find AA's; that said, I bring an extra set of 4 AA with me in a nice battery carrier like these:
https://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-BQ-CASE6SA-Battery-Storage-Capacity/dp/B00JHKSKCO]. There is an option AC adpator you can buy if you want, but the AA batteries work realyl well and you get quite a lot of treatments out of a set. FWIW, I only use Energizer or Duracell AA in them and have not tried with reusables. The Omron Microair uses a vibrating mesh technology to turn the liquid meds into aerosol/mist. This is fine for most asthma meds, including albuterol/salbutamol, but does not work for some respiratory meds [e.g. some of the meds CF often use], so that is important to keep in mind. Per the Omron website it is good for "including Albuterol®, Alupent®, Brokosol®, Isuprel®, Pulmicort Respules®, Proventil®, Ventolin®, Xopenex®, DuoNeb® and Intal®". The other nice thing with the Omron is you can use the thing at most angles -- so lying down or sitting up., something you can't do with a lot of other nebs. For me this Omron is my second one, as I had one of their first version MicroAirs for a number of years before replacing it with this one.
The Omron is a medical device that has clinical studies behind it demonstrating its efficacy and the consistency of delivery of the proper aerosol drop size. This is important, because you want to be assured the medication is being properly delivered, something you may not have assurances of with a cheaper "knock off" from some unknown company.
Omron also has a newer model of the MicroAir:
https://omronhealthcare.com/products/portable-microair-nebulizer-neu100/ . It weighs less. I have not used it as my older version still works fine, so can't comment on it specifically.
An excellent alternative to the Omron is the
Pari Trek S Portable Aerosol System:
https://www.pari.com/us-en/products/compressors/trekr-s-portable-aerosol-system/ and
https://www.pari.com/fileadmin/user...ka/Brochures/047D0202-Trek-S-Detail-Sheet.pdf . Pari nebulizers are considered the "gold standard" for respiratory aerosol therapy and what a lot of clinical and drug studies use; they are what I use with my compressor at home even though it isn't a Pari compressor. The Pari Trek S uses the LC Sprint nebulizer. The Pari is larger than the Omron, and is a compressor-based system, so would be essentially a smaller more portable verison of what you are used to. There is an optional rechargable battery as well as DC power connector available, which gives quite a few power options.
In the US, either will require a Doctor's Rx to purchase.
To be honest, my Omron is many years old now (still working fine though!) but one thing I think about is "if it dies what do I replace it with?". I keep flip-flopping between a Pari Trek S or another Omron, as both have pros and cons.
For the Rx albuterol, I use the pre-diluted nebules, which are usually in a pouch of 5 nebules, 4 or 5 pouches to a box. SOOOO much easier than having to carry and mix sterile saline solution and albuterol
One thing to consider when making your choice, whichever brand you look at, is THE CLEANING INSTRUCTIONS. Are the cleaning instructions something you can actually do when traveling, especially the instructions for the daily disinfection cleaning. Some brands you can use tap water and soap, others you are supposed to be using distilled water and distilled while vinegar for the disinfection cleaning. This has practical implications when traveling.
SW
