albuterol/ipratropium
Brand names: Combivent Respimat, DuoNeb
Combivent Respimat is a combination medicine that helps open your airways. It contains two medicines: ipratropium and albuterol.
Drug Pricing (NADAC)
Brand Price
$117.27/unit
Generic Available
No
Pricing data from NADAC (CMS), effective December 18, 2024. Compare all drug costs →
What it does
This medicine treats Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).
Common side effects
Upper respiratory infection, Runny nose and sore throat, Cough
Key warnings
Combivent Respimat can cause your breathing to get worse (paradoxical bronchospasm).
How It Works
Combivent Respimat contains two medicines that work in different ways. Albuterol relaxes the muscles in your airways, opening them up. Ipratropium helps to prevent the muscles around your airways from tightening.
How to Take It
Use one puff of Combivent Respimat four times a day. You can take extra puffs if needed. Do not use more than six puffs in 24 hours. Make sure to prime the inhaler before using it for the first time, or if it hasn't been used in a while.
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding before using this medicine. It is not known if Combivent Respimat will harm your unborn baby. It is also not known if this medicine passes into breast milk.
Missed Dose
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. Do not take two doses at the same time.
Storage
Store Combivent Respimat at room temperature, away from freezing temperatures.
Side Effects (from patient reports)
Based on 80,070 FDA adverse event reports.
Serious Warnings
Combivent Respimat can cause your breathing to get worse (paradoxical bronchospasm). If this happens, stop using it right away and get medical help. This medicine can also cause heart problems, eye problems, and trouble urinating. Tell your doctor if you have any of these conditions.
Known Drug Interactions
Avoid coadministration of COMBIVENT RESPIMAT and other sympathomimetic agents (7.2) Beta-blockers: Inhibit the effect of albuterol. (7.4) Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOs) or tricyclic antidepressants: May potentiate effect of albuterol on the vascular system. 7.3 Beta-receptor Blocking Agents Beta-receptor blocking agents and albuterol inhibit the effect of each other.
Mechanism: Both of these products contain the same type of medicine. Taking them together can cause you to get too much of the drug, which can lead to a racing heart or jitters.
What to do: Avoid using these two medications at the same time. Your doctor or pharmacist can help you choose the right single inhaler to use.
Common Questions
What should I do if Combivent Respimat makes my breathing worse?
Can Combivent Respimat affect my heart?
Is it safe to spray Combivent Respimat in my eyes?
Can Combivent Respimat cause urinary problems?
What if I am allergic to Combivent Respimat?
Can I use Combivent Respimat with other inhalers?
How do I know when my Combivent Respimat inhaler is empty?
Can I use Combivent Respimat if I have diabetes?
How often should I clean my Combivent Respimat inhaler?
What do I do if Combivent Respimat doesn't seem to be working?
What are the common side effects of albuterol/ipratropium?
Does albuterol/ipratropium interact with other medications?
What drug class is albuterol/ipratropium?
Is albuterol/ipratropium safe during pregnancy?
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What the FDA Data Shows for albuterol/ipratropium
The FDA label for albuterol/ipratropium (sold under brand names such as Combivent Respimat, DuoNeb) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the Beta-2 Agonist / Anticholinergic Combination class. This medicine treats Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). Official labeling lists 6 commonly reported side effects, including Upper respiratory infection, Runny nose and sore throat, Cough.
Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. For this drug, FAERS contains 80,070 voluntary reports. The database also lists 1 documented drug interaction derived from FDA labeling, with the top-flagged interaction rated moderate severity. NADAC pricing from CMS.
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: December 1, 2025
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