Combivent Respimat Dosage for Adults: Your GoodRx Guide

Combivent Respimat (ipratropium / albuterol) is an inhaled medication that helps treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It contains two medications that work in different ways to expand your airways and help you breathe better.

Here we’ll review the recommended Combivent Respimat dosage along with the basics of using this inhaler to help you get the most from your medication.

What’s the typical Combivent Respimat dosage for adults? [Dosage for adults]

The usual Combivent Respimat dosage is to inhale 1 puff 4 times a day. You can inhale 1 or 2 extra puffs as needed throughout the day if your prescriber OKs it. But you shouldn’t inhale more than 6 puffs in 24 hours.

If you’re still having trouble breathing while using the recommended dosage of Combivent Respimat, let your prescriber know. They may need to adjust your inhaled COPD medications to better control your symptoms.

How do you use the Combivent Respimat inhaler?

You’ll need to assemble and prime your Combivent Respimat inhaler before you use it for the first time. This may seem like a chore, but it’s an easy process once you get the hang of it.

How to assemble your Combivent Respimat inhaler

To assemble your Combivent Respimat inhaler:

• Press the safety button and pull off the clear cap covering the end of the inhaler device.

• Write the “discard by” date on the label (3 months from today’s date).

• Insert the small end of the medication into the inhaler device, then press down on a flat surface until you hear it click into place.

• Replace the clear cover on the end of the inhaler device.

Once your inhaler is assembled, you’ll need to prime it before you use it for the first time.

How to prime your Combivent Respimat inhaler

To prime your Combivent Respimat inhaler:

• Twist the base of the inhaler in the direction of the arrows until you hear a click (about a half-turn).

• Open the cap on the top of the inhaler.

• Aim the inhaler away from you or toward the ground and push the dose-release button. The button is a gray half-moon shape underneath the mouthpiece of the inhaler.

• Close the cap. Repeat the twist, open cap, press button process until you’ve seen a mist come out of the mouthpiece four times.

EXPERT PICKS: WHAT TO READ NEXT

• COPD inhaler guide: Learn about the different types of inhalers that treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) symptoms.

• What does COPD feel like? Read a firsthand account of what it’s like living with COPD.

• Stages of COPD: Here’s how COPD stages are determined and what they mean.

Once you’ve seen four visible puffs of mist, your inhaler is ready to use.

How to use your Combivent Respimat inhaler

After you’ve primed the inhaler, follow these steps each time you use it:

• Twist the base of the inhaler a half-turn in the direction of the arrows until it clicks.

• Open the cap.

• Slowly breathe out to empty your lungs of air.

• Close your lips around the inhaler mouthpiece. (Avoid blocking the air vents at the bottom of the mouthpiece.)

• Aim the inhaler toward the back of your throat (not the roof of your mouth).

• Press the gray dose-release button while inhaling a deep, slow breath.

• Hold your breath for about 10 seconds, then breathe normally.

• Close the cap until your next use.

Good to know: If you haven’t used your Combivent Respimat inhaler in more than 3 days, but it’s been less than 21 days, you’ll need to prime it by releasing one puff of mist. If you haven’t used your inhaler for more than 21 days, you’ll need to follow the full priming instructions again before using it.

What happens if you miss a dose of Combivent Respimat?

If you miss a dose of Combivent Respimat, you can inhale a puff as soon as you remember, then return to your usual dosing schedule. But if it’s almost time for your next inhalation, skip the missed dose and continue with your usual dosing schedule. Don’t double up on Combivent  Respimat doses to catch up after a missed dose.

Try to schedule your inhalations around meals and bedtime to help you remember them. You can also use a phone alarm or a medication reminder app to help remind you when it’s time for a dose.

What should you do if you inhale too much Combivent Respimat?

Since you need to prepare each dose of Combivent Respimat by turning the inhaler, it’s not likely that you’ll inhale more than one dose at a time. But using your inhaler more than six times in a day or inhaling too many puffs in a row can cause a problem.

Albuterol, one of the ingredients in Combivent Respimat, can cause a fast heartbeat, tremors,  and high blood pressure if you inhale too much. These symptoms can become dangerous, especially if you have underlying heart problems.

If you’ve inhaled more Combivent Respimat than recommended, contact your prescriber or reach out to the Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222. If you have chest pain or trouble breathing, seek emergency care right away.

How to save on Combivent Respimat

There are ways to save on Combivent Respimat, which is only available as a brand-name medication. GoodRx can help you navigate between patient assistance programs and copay savings cards to save money on your prescription.

• Save with a copay savings card. If you have commercial insurance, you may be eligible to pay as little as $35 for Combivent Respimat using a savings card from the manufacturer.

• Save with patient assistance programs. If you’re uninsured or underinsured, you may be eligible for Combivent Respimat’s patient assistance program, which offers the medication free of cost.

Why trust our experts?

Written by:

Jill Barat, PharmD

Jill Barat, PharmD has nearly 10 years of experience as a pharmacist, including serving as the pharmacist in charge at an independent sterile and non-sterile compounding pharmacy. She also worked as the head of medical content for a telemedicine company.

Edited by:

Stacia Woodcock, PharmD

Stacia Woodcock, PharmD, is a pharmacy editor for GoodRx. She earned her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Kentucky and is licensed in New York and Massachusetts.

Reviewed by:

Tegan Smedley, PharmD, APh

Tegan Smedley, PharmD, APh, has 10 years of experience as a pharmacist. She has worked in a variety of settings, including retail, hospital, and ambulatory care.

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