ipratropium
Brand names: Atrovent
Ipratropium is a medicine that helps you breathe easier. It relaxes the muscles in your airways.
Drug Pricing (NADAC)
Brand Price
$35.12/unit
Generic Price
$0.51/unit
Generic Savings
99%
Generic Available
Yes (21 manufacturers)
Pricing data from NADAC (CMS), effective December 18, 2024. Compare all drug costs →
What it does
Ipratropium treats chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Common side effects
Cough, Headache, Nausea
Key warnings
Tell your doctor right away if you have eye pain, blurred vision, or see halos around lights.
How It Works
Ipratropium blocks a substance in your body that can tighten your airways. By blocking this substance, the muscles around your airways relax. This allows more air to flow in and out of your lungs.
How to Take It
Use ipratropium exactly as your doctor tells you. It comes as a liquid that you breathe in using a nebulizer or inhaler. Your doctor will tell you how much medicine to use and how often to use it. Follow their instructions carefully.
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if ipratropium will harm your unborn baby. Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of using this medicine during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.
Missed Dose
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular schedule.
Storage
Store ipratropium at room temperature away from light and moisture.
Side Effects (from patient reports)
Based on 28,270 FDA adverse event reports.
Serious Warnings
Tell your doctor right away if you have eye pain, blurred vision, or see halos around lights. Ipratropium can make these problems worse. It can also cause new or worsened glaucoma.
Common Questions
What should I avoid while taking ipratropium?
Can ipratropium interact with other medications?
How long does it take for ipratropium to work?
Can I use ipratropium for sudden breathing problems?
What are the symptoms of an allergic reaction to ipratropium?
Can ipratropium cause constipation?
Does ipratropium affect my ability to drive?
Can I drink alcohol while taking ipratropium?
How often can I use ipratropium?
What should I do if ipratropium does not seem to be working?
What are the common side effects of ipratropium?
What drug class is ipratropium?
Is there a generic version of ipratropium?
Is ipratropium safe during pregnancy?
Related Medications in Short-Acting Muscarinic Antagonist (SAMA)
Other drugs grouped near ipratropium — same-class peers and common alternatives.
aclidinium
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albuterol
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albuterol/ipratropium
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Combivent Respimat is a combination medicine that helps open your airways.
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beclomethasone
Qvar
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benralizumab
Fasenra
Fasenra is a medicine that can help treat severe asthma and EGPA.
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Medication Guides
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What the FDA Data Shows for ipratropium
The FDA label for ipratropium (sold under brand names such as Atrovent) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the Short-Acting Muscarinic Antagonist (SAMA) class. Ipratropium treats chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Official labeling lists 4 commonly reported side effects, including Cough, Headache, Nausea.
Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. For this drug, FAERS contains 28,270 voluntary reports. Interaction data is drawn directly from FDA-approved prescribing information. NADAC pricing from CMS shows a generic unit cost of $0.51 versus $35.12 for the brand — a 99% generic savings.
Report counts do not establish causation — a FAERS entry documents a temporal association, not proof that the drug produced the outcome. Widely prescribed medications naturally accumulate more reports than niche therapies, so raw totals must be interpreted alongside total exposure. Shortage status, recall history, and patent information further shape supply and switching decisions. This page summarizes public FDA data for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice — always consult a licensed healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
Data Sources
Drug labeling: FDA Drug Labels (SPL/DailyMed). Adverse events: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Pricing: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC).
FAERS reports are voluntary and do not establish causation. Drug interactions are derived from FDA labeling and clinical references. Always consult a healthcare professional before making medication decisions.
Last updated: July 1, 2022
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
All federal data sources used on this page
- FDA Orange Book — approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence. accessdata.fda.gov/cder/ob
- FDA DailyMed — NIH-hosted drug labeling for FDA-approved meds. dailymed.nlm.nih.gov
- FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) — post-marketing safety surveillance. fda.gov/drugs/faers
- NLM RxNorm — standardized clinical drug nomenclature. nlm.nih.gov/research/umls/rxnorm
- CMS Medicare Part B Drug Average Sales Price Files — federal drug pricing data. cms.gov/medicare/part-b-drugs/asp
- FDA Drug Shortages Database — current and resolved drug shortage tracking. accessdata.fda.gov/drugshortages