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.
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.
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.
Call your doctor right away if you feel that this medicine is not working as well as usual, or if it makes your condition worse. If it seems like you need to use more of any of your medications in a 24-hour period, talk with your doctor.
Extreme heat can cause the ipratropium inhalation canister to burst. Do not store your inhaler in your car on hot days. Do not throw an empty canister into open flame.
Keep track of the number of sprays you have used and throw away the inhaler canister after 200 sprays, even if it feels like there is still medicine in it.
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:
If you have any of these conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely use this medication.
FDA pregnancy category B: This medication is not expected to be harmful to an unborn baby. Do not use ipratropium inhalation without telling your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.
It is not known if ipratropium passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not use ipratropium inhalation without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
Ipratropium inhalation should not be used by a child younger than 12 years of age.