Two medicines, side by side
Albuterol/ipratropium vs brimonidine/timolol
Albuterol/ipratropium is labeled for copd; brimonidine/timolol for glaucoma. Their labels share no use, so they are not alternatives to each other. Drugs@FDA records approvals of albuterol/ipratropium since 1996 and of brimonidine/timolol since 2007. Pharmacies paid $0.0787 per mL (Ipratropium-albuterol 0.5-3(2.5) mg/3 mL) and $2.15 per mL (Brimonidine-timolol 0.2%-0.5%) (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like. Albuterol/ipratropium's other strengths are brand-only: $124.16 per gram (Combivent respimat 20-100 mcg). In FDA's classes, albuterol/ipratropium is a beta2-adrenergic agonist and brimonidine/timolol a beta-adrenergic blocker.
Check it at the source: the albuterol/ipratropium FDA label on DailyMed (effective June 22, 2026); the brimonidine/timolol FDA label on DailyMed (effective March 17, 2026).
Highlights of the albuterol and ipratropium record
Albuterol and ipratropium (Combivent) · label of June 22, 2026
Used for
From the label: indicationsIpratropium Bromide and Albuterol Sulfate Inhalation Solution is indicated for the treatment of bronchospasm associated with COPD in patients requiring more than one bronchodilator.
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- October 24, 1996
- Generic labelers
- 14 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.0787 per mL
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 5
Highlights of the brimonidine and timolol record
Brimonidine and timolol (Combigan) · label of March 17, 2026
Used for
From the label: indicationsCOMBIGAN ® is indicated for the reduction of elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) in patients with glaucoma or ocular hypertension who require adjunctive or replacement therapy due to inadequately controlled IOP. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- October 30, 2007
- Generic labelers
- 14 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $2.15 per mL
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 5
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Albuterol/ipratropium label of June 22, 2026, Brimonidine/timolol label of March 17, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do albuterol/ipratropium and brimonidine/timolol differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, albuterol/ipratropium is a beta2-adrenergic agonist and brimonidine/timolol a beta-adrenergic blocker.
How each works, in its label's words: Albuterol/ipratropium, “Ipratropium bromide is an anticholinergic (parasympatholytic) agent, which blocks the muscarinic receptors of acetylcholine, and, based on animal studies, appears to inhibit vagally mediated reflexes …”; Brimonidine/timolol, “COMBIGAN is comprised of two components: brimonidine tartrate and timolol.”
Half-life, in each label's words: Albuterol/ipratropium, “The half-life of elimination is about 1.6 hours after intravenous administration.”; Brimonidine/timolol, “Excretion In the crossover study in healthy volunteers, the plasma concentration of brimonidine declined with a …”
Generics: albuterol/ipratropium since 2006; brimonidine/timolol since 2022 (Drugs@FDA).
| Albuterol/ipratropium | Brimonidine/timolol | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | COPD | Glaucoma |
| Pharmacologic class | Anticholinergic, beta2-Adrenergic Agonist | alpha-Adrenergic Agonist, beta-Adrenergic Blocker |
| How it works (label) | Ipratropium bromide is an anticholinergic (parasympatholytic) agent, which blocks the muscarinic receptors of acetylcholine, and, based on animal studies, appears to inhibit vagally mediated reflexes by antagonizing the action of … | COMBIGAN is comprised of two components: brimonidine tartrate and timolol. Each of these two components decreases elevated intraocular pressure, whether or not associated with glaucoma. |
| Half-life (label) | The half-life of elimination is about 1.6 hours after intravenous administration. | Excretion In the crossover study in healthy volunteers, the plasma concentration of brimonidine declined with a systemic half-life of approximately 3 hours. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | October 24, 1996 | October 30, 2007 |
| First generic approved | December 21, 2006 | April 4, 2022 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 14 labelers | 14 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.0787 per mL (Ipratropium-albuterol 0.5-3(2.5) mg/3 mL) | $2.15 per mL (Brimonidine-timolol 0.2%-0.5%) |
| 12-month price change | -13% | -52% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 5 | 5 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 4,316 | 6,959 |
| DEA schedule | none | none |
Source: Drugs@FDA, FDA NDC Directory, CMS NADAC of October 7, 2026, FDA shortages and recalls, FAERS via openFDA (FDA files October 8, 2026)
What next?
- Alternatives to albuterol/ipratropium
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions