Atrovent vs. Albuterol

• Are Atrovent and Albuterol the Same Thing?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Atrovent?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Albuterol?
• What Is Atrovent?
• What Is Albuterol?
• What Drugs Interact with Atrovent?
• What Drugs Interact with Albuterol?
• How Should Atrovent Be Taken?
• How Should Albuterol Be Taken?

Atrovent HFA (ipratropium bromide HFA) and Albuterol sulfate (albuterol sulfate inhalation solution) are bronchodilators.

Atrovent HFA is used for maintenance and treatment of bronchospasm associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), including chronic bronchitis, and emphysema.

Albuterol sulfate is used to treat or prevent bronchospasm in people with reversible obstructive airway disease. Albuterol is also used to prevent exercise-induced bronchospasm. Albuterol is also used a rescue medication for acute episodes of bronchospasm.

Common side effects of Atrovent include:

• headache
• dry mouth
• hoarseness
• cough
• stuffy nose
• sinus pain
• nausea
• upset stomach
• constipation
• back pain
• fever
• chills
• body aches
• flu symptoms
• blurred vision, and
• dizziness

Tell your doctor if you experience serious side effects of Atrovent HFA including bronchospasm (wheezing, chest tightness, trouble breathing), eye pain, seeing halos around lights, pain or burning when you urinate, urinating less than usual or not at all, or worsening of your symptoms.

Common side effects of Albuterol include:

• headache,
• dizziness,
• sleep problems (insomnia),
• cough,
• hoarseness,
• sore throat,
• runny or stuffy nose,
• nausea,
• vomiting,
• dry mouth and throat,
• muscle pain, or
• diarrhea.

Tell your doctor if you experience serious side effects of albuterol sulfate including bronchospasm (wheezing, chest tightness, trouble breathing), especially after starting a new canister of this medicine; nervousness; shaking (tremor); headache; chest pain and fast, pounding, or irregular/uneven heartbeats (palpitations); low potassium (confusion, uneven heart rate, extreme thirst, increased urination, leg discomfort, muscle weakness or limp feeling); or dangerously high blood pressure (severe headache, blurred vision, buzzing in your ears, anxiety, confusion, chest pain, shortness of breath, uneven heartbeats, seizure).

Atrovent HFA (ipratropium bromide HFA) is an anticholinergic bronchodilator, packaged in an inhaler, used for maintenance and treatment of bronchospasm associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), including chronic bronchitis, and emphysema. Atrovent HFA is available as a generic termed ipratropium bromide.

Albuterol sulfate (albuterol sulfate inhalation solution) is a bronchodilator used to treat or prevent bronchospasm in people with reversible obstructive airway disease. Albuterol is also used to prevent exercise-induced bronchospasm.

Atrovent HFA may interact with other bronchodilators. Atrovent HFA may also interact with bladder or urinary medicines, cold or allergy medicines that contain an antihistamine, medications for Parkinson's disease, or medications to treat excess stomach acid, stomach ulcer, motion sickness, or irritable bowel syndrome.

Albuterol sulfate may interact with diuretics (water pills), digoxin, beta-blockers, antidepressants, MAO inhibitor, or other bronchodilators. Tell your doctor all medications you use.

The usual starting dose of ATROVENT HFA is two inhalations four times a day. Patients may take additional inhalations as required; however, the total number of inhalations should not exceed 12 in 24 hours.

The usual starting dosage of Albuterol sulfate for patients 2 to 12 years of age is 1.25 mg or 0.63 mg of albuterol sulfate inhalation solution administered 3 or 4 times daily, as needed, by nebulization.