Abstract: An inhaler for introducing a metered amount of solids, for example pharmaceutically active powders, into a stream of air drawn in by a user comprises a storage chamber into which a metering rod extends. The metering rod is provided with a metering recess which fixes the amount of solids to be mixed with the air stream. The storage chamber and the metering rod are movable relative to each other in such a manner that in a first relative position of the metering rod and the storage chamber the metering recess of the metering rod is located in the storage chamber, where it is filled with solids, and in a second relative position it is located in the air channel, where the solids are mixed with the air stream. The axial relative movement can be brought about by the rotation of two housing parts over sloping surfaces.