Combivent Respimat vs. Ventolin

Combivent Respimat (ipratropium bromide and albuterol) Inhalation Spray and Ventolin HFA (albuterol sulfate inhalation aerosol) contain bronchodilators and are used to treat different types of breathing disorders.

Combivent Respimat is used to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Ventolin HFA is used to treat or prevent bronchospasm in people with reversible obstructive airway disease. Ventolin HFA is also used to prevent exercise-induced bronchospasm.

Side effects of Combivent Respimat and Ventolin HFA that are similar include headache, cold symptoms (stuffy nose, sneezing, cough, or sore throat), nausea, vomiting, and fast heartbeat.

Side effects of Combivent Respimat that are different from Ventolin HFA include flu-like symptoms, nervousness, difficulty breathing, urinary retention, and irregular heartbeat.

Side effects of Ventolin HFA that are different from Combivent Respimat include nervousness, shaking (tremor), mouth/throat dryness or irritation, hoarseness, dizziness, sleep problems (insomnia), muscle pain, changes in taste, and diarrhea.

Both Combivent Respimat and Ventolin HFA may interact with other bronchodilators, diuretics (water pills), and antidepressants.

Combivent Respimat may also interact with bladder or urinary medicines, heart or blood pressure medications, medications for Parkinson's disease, stimulants, ADHD medications, diet pills, over-the-counter cold or allergy medicine, and medications to treat excess stomach acid, stomach ulcers, motion sickness, or irritable bowel syndrome.

Ventolin HFA may also interact with digoxin, beta-blockers, and MAO inhibitors.

Common side effects of Combivent Respimat include:

• headache,
• cold symptoms (stuffy nose, sneezing, cough, or sore throat),
• flu-like symptoms,
• nausea,
• vomiting,
• nervousness,
• difficulty breathing,
• urinary retention and
• fast or irregular heartbeat.

Serious side effects of Combivent Respimat include:

• bronchospasms,
• eye (ocular) changes, and
• heart (cardiac) complications.

Common side effects of Ventolin include:

• nervousness,
• shaking (tremor),
• palpitations,
• headache,
• mouth/throat dryness or irritation,
• cough,
• hoarseness,
• sore throat,
• runny or stuffy nose,
• nausea,
• vomiting,
• dizziness,
• sleep problems (insomnia),
• muscle pain,
• changes in taste, or
• diarrhea.

Seek medical help immediately if you have rare but serious side effects of Ventolin HFA, including:

• chest pain or
• irregular heartbeat.

Combivent Respimat (sunitinib malate) is a multi-kinase inhibitor indicated for the treatment of gastrointestinal stromal tumor after disease progression on, or intolerance to imatinib mesylate, for advanced renal cell carcinoma, and for progressive, well-differentiated pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors in patients with unresectable, locally advanced or metastatic disease. Combivent Respimat is available in generic form.

Ventolin HFA (albuterol sulfate inhalation aerosol) is a bronchodilator used to treat or prevent bronchospasm in people with reversible obstructive airway disease. Ventolin HFA is also used to prevent exercise-induced bronchospasm. Ventolin HFA is available in generic form.

Combivent Respimat may interact with bladder or urinary medicines, diuretics (water pills), heart or blood pressure medications, medications for Parkinson's disease or depression, other bronchodilators, stimulants, ADHD medications, diet pills, over-the-counter cold or allergy medicine, or medication to treat excess stomach acid, stomach ulcer, motion sickness, or irritable bowel syndrome. Tell your doctor all medications and supplements you use.

Ventolin HFA may adversely interact with diuretics (water pills), digoxin, beta-blockers, antidepressants, MAO inhibitors, or other bronchodilators. Tell your doctor all medications you are taking. During pregnancy, Ventolin HFA should be used only when clearly needed. Discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor. It is unknown if this medication passes into breast milk. Consult your doctor before breastfeeding.

The Combivent Respimat inhaler delivers 20 mcg of ipratropium bromide (monohydrate) and 100 mcg albuterol (equivalent to 120 mcg albuterol sulfate) from the mouthpiece. The recommended dose of Combivent Respimat is one inhalation four times a day. Patients may take additional inhalations as required; however, the total number of inhalations should not exceed six within 24 hours.

The dose of Ventolin HFA for adults and children for treatment of acute episodes of bronchospasm or prevention of symptoms associated with bronchospasm is 2 inhalations repeated every 4 to 6 hours. More frequent administration or a larger number of inhalations is not recommended. For exercise-induced bronchospasm, the dose is 2 inhalations 15 to 30 minutes before exercise.