Inhalation Solution
Ipratropium bromide
Consumer Medicine Information
What is in this leaflet
This leaflet answers some common questions about Atrovent Inhalation Solution.
It does not contain all the available information.
It does not take the place of talking to your doctor or pharmacist.
All medicines have risks and benefits. Your doctor has weighed the risks of you using Atrovent Inhalation Solution against the benefits it is expected to have for you.
If you have any concerns about using this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
This leaflet was last updated on the date at the end of this leaflet. More recent information may be available. The latest Consumer Medicine Information is available from your pharmacist, doctor, or from www.medicines.org.au and may contain important information about the medicine and its use of which you should be aware.
Keep this leaflet with the medicine.
You may need to read it again.
What Atrovent Inhalation Solution is used for
Atrovent Inhalation Solution is used to treat:
asthma
chronic obstructive bronchitis
people who have difficulty breathing during or after surgery using assisted ventilation.
Asthma is a lung condition where the lining of the lungs becomes inflamed (red and swollen), making it difficult to breathe. This may be due to an allergy to house dust mites, smoke or other irritants.
Chronic obstructive bronchitis is a lung condition that can cause difficulty in breathing, wheeziness and constant coughing.
Atrovent Inhalation Solution contains the active ingredient ipratropium bromide. It belongs to a group of medicines called anticholinergic bronchodilators.
Atrovent Inhalation Solution opens up the air passages in people suffering from asthma, chronic bronchitis and difficulty breathing during or after surgery.
It begins to act quickly after use but may take up to 2 hours to give maximum benefit.
Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why Atrovent Inhalation Solution has been prescribed for you.
Your doctor may have prescribed Atrovent Inhalation Solution for another reason.
There is no evidence that Atrovent Inhalation Solution is addictive.
Atrovent Inhalation Solution is available only with a doctor's prescription.
Before you use Atrovent Inhalation Solution
When you must not use it
Do not use Atrovent Inhalation Solution if you have an allergy to:
ipratropium bromide
similar medicines which contain atropine or medicines like atropine
any of the ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet
any other anticholinergic medicines.
Some of the symptoms of an allergic reaction may include:
shortness of breath, wheezing or troubled breathing
swelling of the face, lips, tongue or other parts of the body
rash, itching or hives on the skin.
Do not use Atrovent Inhalation Solution after the expiry date printed on the pack or if the packaging is torn or shows signs of tampering.
If it has expired or is damaged, return it to your pharmacist for disposal.
If you are not sure whether you should start using Atrovent Inhalation Solution, contact your doctor or pharmacist.
Before you start to use it
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have allergies to any other medicines, foods, preservatives or dyes.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are pregnant or intend to become pregnant.
Your doctor or pharmacist will discuss the possible risks and benefits of using Atrovent Inhalation Solution during pregnancy.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.
Your doctor or pharmacist will discuss the possible risks and benefits of using Atrovent Inhalation Solution during breastfeeding.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have or have had any of the following medical conditions:
glaucoma (high pressure in the eye)
difficulty or pain when passing urine
constipation
cystic fibrosis
hyper reactive airways.
If you have not told your doctor or pharmacist about any of the above, tell them before you start using Atrovent Inhalation Solution.
Using other medicines
Tell your doctor if you are taking any other medicines, including any that you buy without a prescription from your pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop.
Some medicines and Atrovent Inhalation Solution may interfere with each other. These include:
medicines used to treat heart problems such as adrenaline
medicines used to treat asthma or a lung condition called chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) such as theophylline, salbutamol or tiotropium
other nebuliser solutions such as disodium cromoglycate that contain the preservative benzalkonium chloride.
This is because some nebuliser solutions may not mix well with Atrovent Inhalation Solution and may need to be nebulised separately.
These medicines may be affected by Atrovent Inhalation Solution, or may affect how well it works. You may need different amounts of your medicines, or you may need to take different medicines.
Your doctor may prescribe Atrovent Inhalation Solution with other medicines that relax the air passages for additional symptom relief.
Check with your doctor or pharmacist before mixing other nebuliser solutions with Atrovent Inhalation Solution. Some nebulised medicines may not mix well with Atrovent Inhalation Solution and may need to be nebulised separately.
Your doctor and pharmacist have more information on medicines to be careful with or avoid while using Atrovent Inhalation Solution.
How to use Atrovent Inhalation Solution
Follow all directions given to you by your doctor or pharmacist carefully.
They may differ from the information contained in this leaflet.
Atrovent Inhalation Solution is intended for inhalation with suitable nebulising equipment and must not be swallowed.
Diluted solutions should be freshly prepared before use.
At the end of inhalation, leftover solution from the nebuliser bowl should be discarded.
Atrovent Inhalation Solution should not be used if the bottle has been opened for more than 28 days.
After this period, a new Atrovent Inhalation Solution bottle should be used.
Take the following steps in using Atrovent Inhalation Solution and if you have any problems, ask your doctor or pharmacist for assistance.
1. Get your nebuliser ready by following the manufacturer's instructions and the advice of your doctor.
2. Place the prescribed number of drops into the nebuliser bowl.
The dropper insert on top of the bottle delivers 1 mL of Atrovent Inhalation Solution per 20 drops. Each 1 mL of Atrovent Inhalation Solution contains 261 micrograms of ipratropium bromide [equivalent to 250 micrograms of ipratropium bromide (anhydrous)].
To make the dropper function, tap lightly on the bottom of the bottle.
3. If dilution is necessary this should be carried out using normal saline and as instructed by your doctor.
4. Assemble the nebuliser and use it as directed by your doctor.
5. After nebulisation follow the manufacturer's instructions about cleaning your nebuliser.
If you are not sure how to use a nebuliser mask, or do not understand the instructions on the box, ask your doctor or pharmacist for help.
Children should only use Atrovent Inhalation Solution on medical advice and with the help of an adult.
Fit the nebuliser mask to your or your child's nose and mouth before nebulising and inhaling Atrovent Inhalation Solution to prevent the mist from contacting the eyes.
Should the mist contact the eyes, immediately flush your eyes with cold tap water for several minutes.
If you find it difficult to breathe in and use your nebulising mask at the same time, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. They may be able to recommend another method.
How much to use
The usual doses for adults and children are stated below.
Adults:
1 to 2 mL diluted to 2-3 mL with normal saline and nebulised until the entire volume of solution is inhaled, 4 times daily.
Children:
1 mL diluted to 2-3 mL with normal saline and nebulised until the entire volume of solution is inhaled, 4 times daily.
Depending on your condition and specific needs, your doctor may advise you to take a different dose.
When to use it
If your doctor has advised you to use Atrovent Inhalation Solution regularly, then use your medicine at about the same time each day.
Using it at the same time each day will have the best effect. It will also help you remember when to use it.
If you forget to use it
If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the dose you missed and have your next dose when you are meant to.
Otherwise, use it as soon as you remember, and then go back to using your medicine as you would normally.
Do not use a double dose to make up for the dose that you missed.
This may increase the chance of you getting an unwanted side effect.
If you are not sure what to do, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
If you have trouble remembering to use your medicine, ask your pharmacist for some hints.
How long to use it
Continue using Atrovent Inhalation Solution for as long as your doctor tells you.
Atrovent Inhalation Solution helps control your condition, but does not cure it. It is important to keep using it even if you feel well.
If you take too much (overdose)
Immediately telephone your doctor or pharmacist or the Poisons Information Centre (telephone 13 11 26) for advice or go to Emergency at the nearest hospital, if you think that you or anyone else may have used too much Atrovent Inhalation Solution. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning.
You may need urgent medical attention.
Symptoms of an overdose may include:
fast or irregular heart beat
dry mouth
blurred vision.
While you are using Atrovent Inhalation Solution
Things you must do
Stop using Atrovent Inhalation Solution and tell your doctor immediately if you get sudden tightness of the chest, coughing, wheezing or breathlessness immediately after using Atrovent Inhalation Solution.
These may be signs of a condition called bronchospasm.
If you have an Asthma Action Plan that you have agreed with your doctor, follow it closely at all times.
If you find that the usual dose of Atrovent Inhalation Solution is not giving as much relief as before, or you need to use it more often, contact your doctor so that your condition can be checked.
This is important to ensure your breathing problem is controlled properly.
Continue using Atrovent Inhalation Solution for as long as your doctor or pharmacist tells you.
Keep all your doctor's appointments so that your progress can be checked.
Contact your doctor immediately if your breathing suddenly becomes more difficult after using Atrovent Inhalation Solution.
This may be a sign of an allergic reaction.
Contact your doctor immediately if you experience irritation or a feeling of having something in the eye, or any disturbances with your sight (blurred vision, visual halos or coloured images) together with red eyes, during or after using Atrovent Inhalation Solution.
This may mean that you have developed a serious eye condition called narrow-angle glaucoma. This can happen if the solution gets in your eyes.
Tell any other doctors, dentists, and pharmacists who are treating you that you are using Atrovent Inhalation Solution.
If you are about to start any new medicine, tell your doctor or pharmacist that you are using Atrovent Inhalation Solution.
If you plan to have surgery, tell the surgeon or anaesthetist that you are using Atrovent Inhalation Solution.
It may affect other medicines during surgery.
If you become pregnant while using Atrovent Inhalation Solution tell your doctor or pharmacist immediately.
Things you must not do
Do not take any other medicines for your breathing problems without checking with your doctor.
Do not give Atrovent Inhalation Solution to anyone else, even if they have the same condition as you.
Do not use Atrovent Inhalation Solution to treat any other complaints unless your doctor or pharmacist tells you to.
Do not stop using Atrovent Inhalation Solution or lower the dosage, without checking with your doctor or pharmacist.
Do not allow the Atrovent Inhalation Solution to enter the eyes.
Things to be careful of
Be careful driving or operating machinery until you know how Atrovent Inhalation Solution affects you.
Atrovent Inhalation Solution may cause dizziness and blurred vision in some people. If you have any of these symptoms, do not drive, operate machinery or do anything else that could be dangerous. Children should be careful when performing physical activities.
Side effects
Tell your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible if you do not feel well while you are using Atrovent Inhalation Solution.
This medicine helps most people with asthma or chronic obstructive bronchitis, but it may have unwanted side effects in a few people. All medicines can have side effects. Sometimes they are serious, most of the time they are not. You may need medical treatment if you get some of the side effects.
Do not be alarmed by the following list of possible side effects.
You may not experience any of them.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist to answer any questions you may have.
If you get any side effects, do not stop using the Atrovent Inhalation Solution without first talking to your doctor or pharmacist.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you notice any of the following and they worry you:
headache
dizziness
dry or sore mouth
throat irritation
cough
nausea, vomiting
a change in bowel movements, e.g. constipation, diarrhoea, wind, indigestion, reflux (an unusual backflow of fluid).
These are the more common side effects of Atrovent Inhalation Solution. Usually they are mild and short lived.
Tell your doctor as soon as possible if you experience difficulty passing urine.
This is a serious side effect that may require medical attention.
If any of the following happen, tell your doctor immediately or go to Emergency at the nearest hospital:
difficulty breathing or worsening of your breathing problems
swelling of the throat
fast or irregular heart beat, also called palpitations
pounding heart beat
allergic reaction (shortness of breath, wheezing or troubled breathing; swelling of the face, lips, tongue or other parts of the body, rash, itching or hives on the skin)
irritation or a feeling of having something in the eye, red eyes, dilated pupils, blurred vision, visual halos or coloured images.
The above list includes very serious side effects. You may need urgent medical attention or hospitalisation.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you notice anything else that is making you feel unwell.
Other side effects not listed above may occur in some people.
After using Atrovent Inhalation Solution
Storage
Keep your Atrovent Inhalation Solution in a cool, dry place where the temperature stays below 30°C. Discard unused contents 28 days after opening.
Do not store Atrovent Inhalation Solution or any other medicine in the bathroom or near a sink.
Do not leave it in the car on hot days or on window sills.
Heat and dampness can destroy some medicines.
Keep it where children cannot reach it.
A locked cupboard at least one-and-a-half metres above the ground is a good place to store medicines.
Disposal
If your doctor tells you to stop using Atrovent Inhalation Solution or it has passed its expiry date, ask your pharmacist what to do with any medicine that is left over.
Product Description
What it looks like
Atrovent Inhalation Solution is a clear, colourless solution, supplied in bottles containing 20 mL of solution.
Ingredients
Each mL of Atrovent Inhalation Solution contains 261 micrograms of ipratropium bromide (equivalent to 250 micrograms of ipratropium bromide anhydrous) as the active ingredient.
It also contains:
sodium chloride
benzalkonium chloride
disodium edetate
hydrochloric acid
purified water.
Atrovent Inhalation Solution does not contain lactose, sucrose, gluten, tartrazine or any other azo dyes.
