An inhalator for the inhalation of powdered drug preparations from capsules which contain the powdered preparations, the inhalator comprising: (a) an assembly comprising: a capsule holder comprising a capsule chamber for receiving a capsule containing the powdered preparation, the capsule chamber having an air inlet opening and an air outlet opening; a capsule opening device for opening a capsule within the capsule chamber; a finger-operable actuator for the capsule opening device; and (b) a mouthpiece or nosepiece; whereby the user can suck air through the air inlet opening, into the capsule chamber to entrain powder from the opened capsule, and then out of the capsule chamber through the air outlet opening and the mouthpiece or nosepiece, and thence into the user's lungs; wherein the assembly (a) and the mouthpiece or nosepiece (b), 60) are mutually hinged so that the mouthpiece (b, 60) can pivot between an open condition in which the mouthpiece or nosepiece (b, 60) is spaced apart from the air outlet opening of the capsule chamber for loading the capsule into the capsule chamber and a closed condition in which the mouthpiece or nosepiece (b, 60) is disposed in airflow communication with the air outlet opening of the capsule chamber for use; and wherein the inhalator further comprises: (c) a rigid outer shell comprising a first shell part hinged to an second shell part so that the shell is openable and closable; wherein the assembly (a) is retained in the first shell part and is not moveable in normal use with respect to the first shell part; and the assembly (a) and the mouthpiece or nosepiece (b) are disposed within the outer shell (c), each of the first and second shell parts (71, 72) has a circumferential rim (100, 101) defining a mouth of the part and the contours of the rim (100, 101) of each shell part (71, 72) match the contours of the rim of the other substantially completely around the rims (100, 101) when the shell (c) is in the closed condition, wherein the second shell part of the outer shell (c) is tapered inwardly in a direction away from a top opening defined by its rim, the assembly (a) correspondingly tapers inwardly so that it can be received in the second shell part, and the finger-operable actuator for the capsule opening device protrudes through an opening in the second shell part below the rim of the second shell part, whereby the rim of the first shell part is complete. (a) an assembly comprising: a capsule holder comprising a capsule chamber for receiving a capsule containing the powdered preparation, the capsule chamber having an air inlet opening and an air outlet opening; a capsule opening device for opening a capsule within the capsule chamber; a finger-operable actuator for the capsule opening device; and a capsule holder comprising a capsule chamber for receiving a capsule containing the powdered preparation, the capsule chamber having an air inlet opening and an air outlet opening; a capsule opening device for opening a capsule within the capsule chamber; a finger-operable actuator for the capsule opening device; and (b) a mouthpiece or nosepiece; whereby the user can suck air through the air inlet opening, into the capsule chamber to entrain powder from the opened capsule, and then out of the capsule chamber through the air outlet opening and the mouthpiece or nosepiece, and thence into the user's lungs; wherein the assembly (a) and the mouthpiece or nosepiece (b), 60) are mutually hinged so that the mouthpiece (b, 60) can pivot between an open condition in which the mouthpiece or nosepiece (b, 60) is spaced apart from the air outlet opening of the capsule chamber for loading the capsule into the capsule chamber and a closed condition in which the mouthpiece or nosepiece (b, 60) is disposed in airflow communication with the air outlet opening of the capsule chamber for use; and wherein the inhalator further comprises: (c) a rigid outer shell comprising a first shell part hinged to an second shell part so that the shell is openable and closable; wherein the assembly (a) is retained in the first shell part and is not moveable in normal use with respect to the first shell part; and the assembly (a) and the mouthpiece or nosepiece (b) are disposed within the outer shell (c), each of the first and second shell parts (71, 72) has a circumferential rim (100, 101) defining a mouth of the part and the contours of the rim (100, 101) of each shell part (71, 72) match the contours of the rim of the other substantially completely around the rims (100, 101) when the shell (c) is in the closed condition, wherein the second shell part of the outer shell (c) is tapered inwardly in a direction away from a top opening defined by its rim, the assembly (a) correspondingly tapers inwardly so that it can be received in the second shell part, and the finger-operable actuator for the capsule opening device protrudes through an opening in the second shell part below the rim of the second shell part, whereby the rim of the first shell part is complete.