Ipratropium (Inhalation)

Brand Names : Atrovent, Apo-Ipravent, Kendral-Ipratropium

Before Using This Medicine

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of using the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For ipratropium, the following should be considered:

Allergies - Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to ipratropium, atropine, belladonna, hyoscyamine, or scopolamine, or to other inhalation aerosol medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to soya lecithin or related food substances such as soybeans and peanuts.

Pregnancy - Ipratropium has not been studied in pregnant women. However, it has not been shown to cause birth defects or other problems in animal studies.

Breast-feeding - It is not known whether ipratropium passes into the breast milk. Although most medicines pass into breast milk in small amounts, many of them may be used safely while breast-feeding. Mothers who are using this medicine and who wish to breast-feed should discuss this with their doctor.

Children - This medicine has been tested in children and, in effective doses, has not been shown to cause different side effects or problems in children than it does in adults.

Older adults - Ipratropium inhalation has been tested in patients 65 years of age or older. This medicine is not expected to cause different side effects or problems in older people than it does in younger adults.

Other medicines - 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 ipratropium, it is especially important that your health care professional know if you are taking any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicine.

Other medical problems - The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of ipratropium. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problem, especially:

• Difficult urination - Ipratropium may make the condition worse

• Glaucoma - Ipratropium may make the condition worse if it gets into the eyes