In a method for performing an inhalation a reservoir is filed with a medication fluid or a medication container is connected to a designated connecting piece, a nebulizer unit is connected to a control unit and a mouthpiece, the nebulizer unit is activated, the medication fluid is atomized into a fine particulate aerosol which is emitted into an aerosol chamber formed by the nebulizer unit and the mouthpiece, and an inhalation is performed by a user. A pressure within the aerosol chamber and/or a flow rate through the aerosol chamber is measured using the control unit. The nebulizer is activated with each breath on occurrence of at least one activation criterion detected using the control unit. The nebulizer unit is deactivated with fulfillment of at least one stop criterion.