Drug name
Atrovent (Ipratropium)
Drug Description
Atrovent inhaler is prescribed to treat lung illnesses such as chronic bronchitis and pulmonary emphysema. It relieves the muscles all over your airways open up and helps to breathe more easily.
Intake Instruction
Please thoroughly follow the instructions for using this medicine advised by your health care provider.
You should perform some test sprays previous to using an inhaler for the first time as well as if it was not used for more than a day.
Please inhale this medication by mouth at most times 4 times a day, or as prescribed by your health care provider. Close your eyes and put your lips closely around the mouthpiece to keep away from spraying any of this preparate into your eyes. This process will minimize the risk of passing blurred vision, vision problems, and eye irritation.
If two inhalations/puffs are advised, please make sure to wait at least one minute between them. In case you are using other inhalers at the same time of treatment, you should necessarily wait several minutes between each preparate used.
Wash your mouth after using this inhaler to keep away from dry mouth and throat irritation.
In case you are advised to take this medication regularly, it functions best if taken concertedly at serenely spaced intervals. Make sure to use it at fixed times each day. Never increase your dose, use it more often than prescribed, or stop using this medication without preliminary consulting to your health care provider. Dosage is prescribed basing your medical condition and therapy reaction.
Drug Category and Mechanism
Atrovent represents a type of bronchodilator. It relieves the muscles all over your airways so that they free and you breathe more easily.
Missed Dose
Should you miss a dose of this medicine please take it asap. If you find you have missed the previous dosage when it is almost time for your next dose, you should better skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Taking double or extra doses at once is not recommended. If more than one dose is missed, please contact your attending medical doctor or health care provider.
Storage
Please make sure to keep the medicine at room temperature 39 and 86 degrees F (4 and 30 degrees C). It should be also strictly protected from moisture, heat and light.
Keep the medicine out of the reach of children and away from pets.
Safety Precautions
Taking the medicine is not recommended in case:
you have allergic reaction to any component in Atrovent.
you have allergic reaction to atropine or alike medicines
Please inform your health care provider if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of these are applicable to you.
If this medicine does not seem to stave off wheezing or thorax tenseness as well as usual, or for longer than usual, you should immediately inform your health care provider. It may occur that your lung problems worsen and your physician may need to prescribe you another medicine.
Inhalers can be the reason for causing an unforeseen increase in wheezing (paradoxical bronchospasm) immediately after using them. If this occurs, please stop using the inhaler straightway and inform your physician. The preparate should be stopped immediately and an alternative treatment method found.
Please avoid inadvertently getting this medicine into your eyes, especially if you have, or are sensitive to, glaucoma. You should necessarily take separate care if you are using a dispersion to stay away from the mist getting in your eyes. You should use a mouthpiece with a nebuliser; you may also use a suitably fitting nebuliser mask.
Please inform your health care provider if the medicine gets into your eyes.
Please also inform your health care provider immediately if you observe any of the following symptoms at tee period of using this medicine: red and causing pain eye, vision loss and other problems, seeing haloes around lights.
Please note that this preparate should be used with precaution at the period of pregnancy, and only if the expectable benefit to the mother exceeds the possible risk to the foetus. Please immediately contact your physician if you become pregnant.
Probable Side Effects
Medicines and their minor side effects can impact on the individual in various ways. The following are some of the side effects which are known to be related with this medicine. As a side effect is stated here, it does not necessarily mean that all people using this preparate will experience that or any side effect.
headache;
emesis and vomiting;
dry mouth;
throat irritation;
unforeseen narrowing of the airways (paradoxical bronchospasm);
rapid heart rate (tachycardia);
constipation;
vision problems;
hard passing urine (urinary retention).
The side effects reported by the drug's manufacturer are not limited to the above – provided ones. For more information on any probable risks related with this medicine, please necessarily read thoroughly information provided with the medicament or contact your health care provider or pharmacist.
Extra Information
An important note: This medicine is for you only. Sharing this medicine with others is not recommended.
If your symptoms do not show improvement or if they worsen, please immediately contact your health care provider or pharmacist.