Atrovent HFA (ipratropium) is a short-acting inhaled anticholinergic medication used to help with difficulty breathing in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This medication comes in an inhaler. Typically, you breathe in 2 inhalations, 4 times a day. You should use Atrovent HFA (ipratropium) regularly every day in order it for it to keep your COPD symptoms under control. It's not meant to be used as a rescue inhaler.
Atrovent HFA (ipratropium) is a short-acting inhaled anticholinergic medication. It works by blocking a chemical called acetylcholine from attaching to receptors (signaling proteins) in your lungs. Typically, acetylcholine causes the muscles in your airways to contract (tighten). By blocking acetylcholine, Atrovent HFA (ipratropium) relaxes the muscles in your airways to make it easier to breathe.
| Common Brands | Atrovent HFA |
|---|---|
| Drug Class | SAMA |
| Controlled Substance Classification | Not a controlled medication |
| Generic Status | No lower-cost generic available |
| Availability | Prescription only |
The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.
Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:
More common
Bladder pain
bloody or cloudy urine
cough producing mucus
difficult, burning, or painful urination
difficulty with breathing
frequent urge to urinate
lower back or side pain
shortness of breath
tightness in the chest
Rare
Constipation (continuing) or lower abdominal pain or bloating
fainting
fast, pounding, or irregular heartbeat or pulse
severe eye pain
skin rash or hives
swelling of the face, lips, or eyelids
Incidence not known
Blindness
blurred vision
confusion
decrease in the frequency of urination
decrease in the urine volume
decreased vision
difficulty in passing urine (dribbling)
difficulty with swallowing
dizziness
dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up suddenly from a lying or sitting position
hives or welts
large, hive-like swelling on the face, eyelids, lips, tongue, throat, hands, legs, feet, or sex organs
nausea or vomiting
noisy breathing
puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue
redness of the skin
redness of the white part of the eyes or inside of the eyelids
sweating
tearing
Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Atrovent HFA (ipratropium) can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Severe allergic reactions to Atrovent HFA (ipratropium) are possible, including life-threatening reactions like facial swelling, shock, and anaphylaxis (closing of the throat). Get medical attention right away if you notice hives, rash, red skin, swelling of the lips or tongue, or difficulty breathing after using Atrovent HFA (ipratropium).
Though extremely rare, Atrovent HFA (ipratropium) can sometimes cause a muscle spasm in your lungs (bronchospasm). This can lead to difficulty breathing, wheezing, cough, and chest discomfort. If you become short of breath after using Atrovent HFA (ipratropium), get medical attention right away.
Though not common, using Atrovent HFA (ipratropium) can raise the pressure in the eyes. Sometimes, this can cause or worsen glaucoma. Talk to your eye provider before using Atrovent HFA (ipratropium) if you have glaucoma or other eye problems. Also speak with them if you notice any changes to your vision while using the medication. Never spray Atrovent HFA (ipratropium) in your eyes because this could cause eye pain, discomfort, blurry vision, and other vision changes.
Atrovent HFA (ipratropium) should be used cautiously in people who have prostate problems, because it can worsen this condition and lead to difficulty urinating. Contact your provider if you notice difficulty urinating while using this medication.
Inhaler| Dosage | Quantity | Price as low as | Price per unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12.9g of 17mcg | 1 inhaler | $306.04 | $306.04 |
Each inhalation of Atrovent contains 17 mcg of ipratropium bromide.
The typical starting dose is 2 inhalations by mouth 4 times daily. Your provider might prescribe you additional inhalations. The maximum dose is 12 inhalations in a 24-hour period.
Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
Contraindications are specific health conditions or situations in which a person should not take a medication due to safety concerns. If you have any of the following conditions or if any of the following apply to you, let your healthcare provider know because Atrovent HFA (ipratropium) will not be safe for you to take.
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You'll know if Atrovent HFA is working for you based on how often you have difficulty breathing and need your rescue inhaler. The purpose of Atrovent HFA is to keep your airways open so you're less likely to have shortness of breath. If you're still having difficulty breathing often after using Atrovent HFA, let your provider know. They might need to add or consider switching you to a different medication. Get medical help right away if your symptoms seem to be getting worse or aren't improving while taking this medication.
There isn't a set amount of time you'll need to use Atrovent HFA to manage your COPD. Some people need the inhaler for their whole life, while others only need it for just a short amount of time. After you use Atrovent HFA for a period of time and don't experience any short-term breathing problems, your provider might slowly lower your dose, or switch you to a longer-acting inhaler like Spiriva (tiotropium). Then they can see how well your COPD is managed. It's important you take Atrovent HFA exactly as prescribed. This will make sure the medication works as best as possible for you.
No, Atrovent HFA isn't FDA-approved to be used as a rescue inhaler. This medication takes about 15 minutes to start working, which isn't ideal for someone who needs help breathing right away. Quick-acting inhalers, such as albuterol (Ventolin), are approved as rescue inhalers. If you've been using Atrovent HFA as directed by your provider and still experiencing breathing problems, let your provider know. They can check your technique to see if you're using the Atrovent HFA inhaler correctly and getting all of the medications into your lungs. They can also see if they need to make changes to your COPD medications or prescribe you a rescue inhaler.
Atrovent HFA is only FDA-approved for COPD. But guidelines from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute say that Atrovent HFA can be used alongside rescue inhalers, like albuterol (Ventolin), during a moderate or severe asthma attack. In addition, Atrovent HFA might possibly be used as a rescue inhalers for people who can't use the standard rescue inhalers. However, Atrovent HFA hasn't been well-studied in these situations and a lot more research is needed in these areas. Please talk with your provider if you have questions about asthma medications.
Both Atrovent HFA and nebulized ipratropium contain the same active ingredient (ipratropium) and work just as well as each other as a maintenance treatment for COPD. The only major difference is the device that's used to deliver the medication to the lungs. Atrovent HFA is an HFA inhaler that works by using a propellant to push the aerosolized medication out of the inhaler and into your lungs. As you push down on the canister for a dose, you'll need to take a slow, long, deep breath to allow the medication to reach your lungs. Nebulized ipratropium requires a nebulizer, which is a machine that turns a medication solution into a mist that you breathe in continuously for about 5 to 15 minutes. Atrovent HFA delivers the medication more quickly, and the inhaler can be easily taken with you anywhere, whereas nebulizer machines are bulky and require to be plugged in. Ask your provider if you've more questions about the difference between the ipratropium inhaler and nebulizer.
