What is ipratropium inhalation?
Ipratropium inhalation is used to prevent bronchospasm, or narrowing airways in the lungs, in people with bronchitis, emphysema, or COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). Ipratropium inhalation may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.
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What is the price of this medication and similar alternatives?
This pricing information is subject to change at the sole discretion of DS Pharmacy. For the most current and up-to-date pricing information, please visit drugstore.com.
| DuoNeb 2.5-0.5MG/3ML Solution | DEY LABS | 90/$72.99 or 270/$205.98 |
| DuoNeb 2.5-0.5MG/3ML Solution | DEY LABS | 180/$133.83 or 540/$383.24 |
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What are the possible side effects of ipratropium inhalation?
Stop using ipratropium inhalation and get emergency medical help if you have any of
these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of
your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Call your doctor at once if you have a fast, pounding heartbeat.
Other less serious side effects are more likely to occur, such as:
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headache, dizziness;
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dry mouth, cough, hoarseness;
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nausea, upset stomach; or
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blurred vision.
If you switch from Atrovent to Atrovent HFA, you may notice a
slightly different taste or feel after inhaling the medication.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell your doctor about any
unusual or bothersome side effect.
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How should I use ipratropium inhalation?
Use this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not use it in larger doses or for longer than recommended by your doctor. This medication comes with patient instructions for safe and effective use. Follow these directions carefully. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions. When using the inhaler device for the first time, prime it by spraying 2 test sprays into the air, away from your face. Also prime the inhaler if you have not used it for 3 days or longer. The instructions below are for standard use of the inhaler and nebulizer devices. Your doctor may want you to use your device differently. Be sure you understand all instructions that are specific to your use of ipratropium inhalation.
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What is the most important information I should know about ipratropium inhalation?
Before using this medication, tell your doctor if you have narrow-angle glaucoma, or an enlarged prostate or bladder obstruction. If you have any of these conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely use ipratropium inhalation. Ipratropium inhalation is used to prevent bronchospasm attacks. This medication will not treat bronchospasm while it is happening. You may still have difficulty breathing and may need to use one of your other medicines to treat the attack. To best control your condition, use ipratropium inhalation regularly, and continue using all your other medicines as directed by your doctor.
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What happens if I miss a dose?
Use the medication as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and wait until your next regularly scheduled dose. Do not use extra medicine to make up the missed dose.
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What other drugs will affect ipratropium inhalation?
Before using ipratropium inhalation, tell your doctor if you are using any of the following medicines: atropine (Donnatal, and others), belladonna, clidinium (Quarzan), dicyclomine (Bentyl), glycopyrrolate (Robinul), hyoscyamine (Anaspaz, Cystospaz, Levsin, and others) mepenzolate (Cantil), methantheline (Provocholine), methscopolamine (Pamine), and propantheline (Pro-Banthine), or scopolamine (Transderm-Scop). This list is not complete and there may be other drugs not listed that can affect ipratropium inhalation. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.
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Can I take this if I am pregnant or trying to get pregnant or if I am breastfeeding?
Ipratropium has been assigned to pregnancy category B by the FDA. Animal studies have failed to reveal evidence of teratogenicity. However, there are no controlled data in human pregnancy. Ipratropium is recommended for use during pregnancy when benefit outweighs risk.
One malformation, a renal obstruction, occurred between 1982 and 1994 among 37 women who took this drug during the first trimester according to data taken from a study of Medicaid patients.
There are no data on the excretion of ipratropium into human milk. Due to low serum concentrations obtained with oral inhalation and intranasal administration, as well as poor absorption of ipratropium from the gastrointestinal tract, it is unlikely that the drug would reach a nursing infant in an appreciable amount. The manufacturer recommends that caution be used when administering ipratropium to nursing women.
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Who should NOT use this medication?
- Known hypersensitivity to the drug or any other component of the formulation, or to atropine or its derivatives.
- Known hypersensitivity to soya lecithin or related food products, including soybeans and peanuts.
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What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine. Ipratropium inhalation is not expected to cause overdose symptoms.
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What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before using ipratropium inhalation?
Ipratropium inhalation is used to prevent bronchospasm attacks. This medication will not treat bronchospasm while it is happening. You may still have difficulty breathing and may need to use one of your other medicines to treat the attack. To best control your condition, use ipratropium inhalation regularly, and continue using all your other medicines as directed by your doctor. Before using ipratropium inhalation, tell your doctor if you have: narrow-angle glaucoma; or an enlarged prostate or a bladder obstruction.
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Can I stop taking the medication if I feel better?
As a general rule, you should always take your medications exactly as prescribed and do not change the dosage or stop taking the medication without first discussing it with your healthcare provider.
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I am on so many medications; do I have to take them all?
This is called polypharmacy—many different medications being used at the same time by one person. Sometimes, being on multiple medications is acceptable and appropriate but at other times it may be problematic. If you are receiving your medications from multiple physicians you need to ensure that they all know what medications you are taking. The best way to do this is to make a list of all the medications you are currently using, including all nutritional supplements, homeopathic remedies, vitamins and over-the-counter drugs (if possible, also include all the diseases you have been diagnosed with). Give a copy to every doctor who takes care of you so they have it on file, this way they can avoid duplicating medications and perhaps even try to consolidate some. After every doctor's visit remember to update the list accordingly. Also, as much as you possibly can, try to use the same pharmacy to fill all your prescriptions, this way any potential drug interactions can be caught and averted.
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Where can I get more information?
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