COMBIVENT

Who is Combivent for ?

The combination of ipratropium and albuterol, a bronchodilator, is used with other bronchodilators to prevent wheezing, shortness of breath, and troubled breathing caused by chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It relaxes and opens the air passages to the lungs, making it easier to breathe.

this medication is sometimes prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

This inhaler contains two medications--albuterol and ipratropium. Albuterol is an inhaled Beta-2 Agonist that works in the lungs to open your airways and allow for easier breathing. It does this by stimulating the beta-2 receptors, which are a certain type of receptor located in your lungs that helps regulate constriction and dilation of the airways. Ipratropium is an anticholinergic used in the treatment of asthma to widen the airways by relaxing and opening air passages to the lungs, making it easier to breathe.

When should I be careful taking Combivent ?

Before taking ipratropium and albuterol,

• tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to ipratropium, atropine, albuterol, levalbuterol, or any other drug, or if you are allergic to soya lecithin or related food products such as soybean and peanut.
• tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription drugs you are taking, especially antidepressants such as amitriptyline (Elavil), amoxapine (Asendin), clomipramine (Anafranil), desipramine (Norpramin), doxepin (Sinequan), imipramine (Tofranil), nortriptyline (Pamelor), protriptyline (Vivactil), trimipramine (Surmontil); atenolol (Tenormin); betaxolol (Kerlone); cartelol (Cartrol); diuretics ('water pills') such as bendroflumethiazide (Naturetin), benzthiazide (Exna), bumetanide (Bumex), chlorothiazide (Diuril), chlorthalidone (Hygroton), ethacrynic acid (Edecrin), furosemide (Lasix), hydrochlorothiazide (HydroDiuril), hydroflumethiazide (Diucardin), indapamide (Lozol), metahydrin (Naqua), methyclothiazide (Enduron), metolazone (Zaroxolyn), polythiazide (Renese), quinethazone (Hydromox), trichlormethiazide, and torsemide (Demedex); isocarboxazid (Marplan); labetolol (Normodyne, Trandate); metoprolol (Lopressor); nadolol (Corgard); other medications for asthma such as bitolterol (Tornalate), isoetharine, metaproterenol (Alupent), pirbuterol (Maxair), isoproterenol (Isuprel), levalbuterol (Xopenex), and salmeterol (Serevent); phenelzine (Nardil); propranolol (Inderal); sotalol (Betapace); theophylline; timolol (Blocadren); tranylcypromine (Parnate); hypertension; glaucoma; and heart disease.
• tell your doctor and pharmacist what nonprescription vitamins and herbal products you are taking, including ephedrine, phenylephrine, phenylpropanolamine, or pseudoephedrine. Many nonprescription products contain these drugs (e.g., diet pills and medications for colds and asthma), so check labels carefully. Do not take any of these medications without talking to your doctor (even if you never had a problem taking them before).
• tell your doctor if you have or have ever had glaucoma, prostate problems or difficulty urinating, seizures, an overactive thyroid gland, high blood pressure, an irregular heart beat, increased heart rate, diabetes, or liver or kidney disease.
• tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. If you become pregnant while taking ipratropium and albuterol, call your doctor immediately.
• if you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you are taking ipratropium and albuterol.
• if you spray ipratropium and albuterol into your eyes and experience worsening glaucoma, eye pain, temporary blurring of vision, halos or colored images in association with red itchy eyes, call your doctor immediately.

Side Effects

Side effects from ipratropium and albuterol are not common, but they can occur. Tell yourdoctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

• cough
• dry mouth or throat irritation
• nervousness
• dizziness
• headache
• upset stomach
• joint or muscle pain

If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately:

• increased difficulty breathing
• irregular heartbeat
• rapid or increased heartbeats
• chest pain or discomfort
• sinus or respiratory infection