What is Albuterol and Ipratropium Oral Inhalation used for?

Why did doctors prescribe this medication?

Albuterol and Ipratropium are used together in combination to prevent wheezing, difficulty breathing, chest tightness, and coughing symptoms. It is also used to treat COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), which is a disease group that affects the lungs and airways such as emphysema or chronic bronchitis. To make breathing easier, this medication works by relaxing and opening the air passages to the lungs.

The combination of Albuterol and Ipratropium comes under the class of medication known as bronchodilators. This combination of medication is only used when the symptoms have not been controlled by the other single inhaled medication. This combination contains two medications: ipratropium and albuterol and albuterol medication are also known as salbutamol. This product sold under the brand name Combivent, Combivent Respimat, or DuoNeb, and Ipratropium bromide and albuterol sulfate is a generic name of the DUONEB medication.

How should albuterol and ipratropium oral inhalation be used?

The combination of albuterol and ipratropium is available in the form of a liquid solution to inhale by mouth. You can inhale this product by mouth in two ways:  by using the inhaler, you can do spray this product in your mouth to inhale and you can use a special type machine a nebulizer that made to inhale these type of medications by mouth, this machine turns medication into a mist that can be inhaled by mouth. 

Your doctors will suggest to you this medication use a maximum of two doses of the nebulizer solution per day and the inhalation spray maximum of six times in 24 hours. Don’t try to use extra dosages without consulting your doctor because it would be very harmful to you if you have used them excessively.

Ensure to follow the directions exactly on your prescription label carefully because the length and dosage of treatment depend on your medical condition and response to treatment. Don’t ever try to take less or more of this medication than prescribed by your doctor or pharmacists. If you don’t understand any of the parts then ask your health care provider to explain all the things again.

How to prepare the inhaler for use?

1. If you are using the inhaler for the first time then put the inhaler together before you use it.
2. After taking the inhaler out of the box, keep the orange cap closed.
3. Pull off the clear base of the inhaler and press the safety catch. And be careful don’t to let yourself touch the piercing element inside of the base.
4. After unboxing the inhaler and before using it, write the date on the inhaler so you will not forget the date you have used it because the inhaler must be discarded three months after you put it together. 
5. Insert the narrow end into the inhaler after taking the cartridge out of the box. For checking it inserted correctly, you can press the inhaler against a hard surface. 
6. With the orange cap closed hold the inhaler upright and then in the direction of the white arrows turn the clear base until it clicks.
7. To open it fully flip the orange cap and then toward the ground point the inhaler.
8. After all, that, press the dose release button and close the orange cap.
9. Until you see a spray coming out of the inhaler repeat steps 6-8 and then again repeat these steps three more times. After that, your inhaler is ready to use it.
10. If you didn’t use your inhaler for longer than 3 days then you will not need to prime your inhaler again.
11. If you didn’t use your inhaler for longer than 3 days and now you want to start to use it but before you start to use it again, toward the ground, you will need to release one spray.
12. In case, If you didn’t use your inhaler for longer than 21 days then first prime your inhaler. To prime, the inhaler again follows steps 6-9.

How to inhale the spray using the inhaler?

1. With the orange cap closed hold the inhaler upright and then in the direction of the white arrows turn the clear base until it clicks.
2. After that open the orange cap and breathe out slowly and completely.
3. Put the mouthpiece of the inhaler in your mouth and close your lips around it. And be careful don’t to let yourself cover the air vents with your lips.
4. Toward the back of your throat point the inhaler and breathe in slowly and deeply.
5. Press the dose release button at the time you were breathing in. 
6. As the spray is released into your mouth, continue to breathe in. 
7. As long as you comfortably can hold your breath try to hold your breath or try to hold it for 10 seconds.
8. After that, take out the inhaler from your mouth and close the orange cap.
9. Unless you are ready to use the inhaler again then try to keep the cap closed.

When you are using this medication, try to be very careful don’t to get albuterol and ipratropium oral inhalation into your eyes. It would be harmful to your eyes, it can develop narrow-angle glaucoma. It is a kind of eye situation or condition in which you can lose vision.

What happens if I overdose?

Some of the symptoms or side effects can occur because of an overdose of albuterol and Ipratropium. Talk to your healthcare professionals if you have experienced any of the following symptoms or side effects immediately.

Some symptoms of overdose of albuterol and Ipratropium:

• You’ll start feeling pain in your chest.
• You’ll start feeling a fast heartbeat.

What special precautions could I take?

If you have experienced or faced any of the problems mentioned above then contact your health care professionals immediately. Follow all the mentioned precautions carefully, these are all precautions that you can take while using this product.

You should have followed this special precaution before using albuterol and ipratropium:

• If you are allergic to albuterol, ipratropium, sulfite, any other medications then tell your doctor and pharmacist and ask them for all ingredients of albuterol and ipratropium medication by which you are allergic.
• If you have or have ever had glaucoma (an eye condition) or ever had any of these problem mentioned in the list such as a blockage in your bladder, difficulty urinating, seizures, hyperthyroidism, a prostate (a male reproductive gland) condition, high blood pressure, and irregular heartbeat, diabetes, or heart, liver, or kidney disease then tell your doctor and pharmacist.
• After inhaling this medication, if you have faced wheezing and difficulty breathing immediately then tell your doctor and pharmacist.
• Don’t use albuterol and ipratropium inhalation medication, if your healthcare professionals didn’t tell you that you should.
• If you are taking some prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products, or planning to take them while using this medication then tell your doctor and pharmacist.
• If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or plan to become pregnant. If you become pregnant and you want to take this drug then tell your doctor and pharmacist immediately.
• If you are having surgery, including dental surgery while taking albuterol and ipratropium oral inhalation, tell the doctor or dentist.

What side effects can albuterol and ipratropium cause?

Albuterol and ipratropium oral inhalation is a medication that can be used only for serious side effects. That’s why this medication can only be used by people who have some serious side effects. Without your healthcare professionals don’t try to use this medication and they will suggest albuterol and ipratropium oral inhalation by judging the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects.

Don’t use it for a longer time period than prescribed, but in case, If you’re using this medication for prolonged or repeated long periods then it may result in some serious side effects. If you notice or feel any of the new or worsening symptoms then tell your doctor or pharmacist.

Some common side effects of albuterol and ipratropium oral inhalation:

If you experience any of these common side effects or symptoms while you are using the albuterol and ipratropium oral inhalation medication and do not go away or are getting worse, then stop taking or using this product and call your healthcare professionals immediately:

• You’ll start to feel nervous.
• You’ll start to feel dizzy.
• You’ll feel nausea.
• You’ll feel a dry mouth
• You’ll feel constipation.
• You’ll feel a headache.
• You’ll start feeling uncontrollable shaking of a part of the body.

Some serious side effects of albuterol and ipratropium oral inhalation:

If you experience any of these serious side effects or symptoms while you are using the albuterol and ipratropium oral inhalation medication and do not go away or are getting worse, then stop taking or using this product and call your healthcare professionals immediately:

• You’ll feel a fast or pounding heartbeat.
• You’ll start to feel pain in your chest.
• You’ll feel swelling of the eyes, face, lips, tongue, throat, hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs.
• You’ll feel difficulty breathing or swallowing.
• You’ll feel sore throat, fever, chills, and other signs of infection
• difficulty urinating.
• You’ll feel hives.
• You’ll feel rash.
• You’ll feel itchy.

The most common side effect is you’ll feel your blood pressure. To control it use this Alfuzosin medication or call your healthcare professionals. 

At the time using this medication, if it goes into your eyes then your eye condition can worsen, if you already have narrow-angle glaucoma then it. You can experience these worsen side effects in your eyes: blurred vision, and vision changes such as seeing halos around lights, seeing unusual colors, widened pupils, or eye pain or redness. So always be more careful while using it but in case if this medication goes into your eyes then contact your healthcare professionals immediately.

This is not the complete list of all symptoms and side effects of this medication, In case, if you are facing any unusual problems then immediately contact your health care professionals. Because albuterol and ipratropium can cause some other side effects also.

If you are in the United States and you are facing these serious side effects or someone near you then you can contact the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or call at 1-888-463-6332 or at www.fda.gov/medwatch.

What are other uses of albuterol and ipratropium?

Your health care professional can also prescribe this medication for other uses and you can ask them for more information or other uses of albuterol and Ipratropium.

What can I do if I forget a dose?

If you forgot to take this medication and if it is near the time of your next dose then we suggest you please skip that dose and take it at the next dose at the regular time. Don’t take the dose at irregular times. It makes your dose double.

What are the interactions of albuterol and ipratropium?

Your healthcare professionals can already be aware of any drug interactions. Don’t try to change, stop, or start the dosage of any medicine before checking or before talking to your doctor or pharmacist. If you are taking some prescription and nonprescription medications, other vitamins, nutritional supplements, herbal products, including prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs, or planning to take them, then tell your doctor and pharmacist before starting the treatment with this product.

Before using the albuterol and ipratropium oral inhalation medication, tell your healthcare professionals of all the products you use because this documentation doesn’t contain all the possible interactions. And the most important thing when you are taking these products doesn’t start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicines you are using without your doctor’s approval. 

What can I know about the storage and disposal of this medication?

Store this medication at room temperature and keep them away from light or excessive heat and moisture. And put them away from the reach of the pets and children, we suggest you put that medicine in a tightly closed container in which they came. 

You should have disposed of all the medication that is unneeded in a special way to ensure that children, pets, and other people can’t consume them. You can not flush them or pour them into the drain. You can return them to the pharmacist or the best way is that you can take back the program for returning your medicines.

What other information should I know?

Don’t miss any of your doctor and laboratory appointments because your doctor will check the response of this medicine then he/she will tell you the update or other pieces of information. So, keep all your appointments with your doctor, pharmacist, the laboratory. And before having any laboratory test, if you are already taking this product then tell your doctor and the laboratory personnel. Talk to your healthcare professionals if you feel your health condition is getting worse or your dose may need to be adjusted. 

It is very important to tell your pharmacist about all your prescriptions and non-prescription you were taking and make a list of them and carry the list all the time. It would help you in case of emergencies. When you meet or visit your doctor you should bring the list. It’s important to your doctor.

Hope you find this blog useful. Please tell us your experience with this blog in the comment section and keep visiting for further pieces of information.