Atrovent Aerosol CFC Free (Ipratropium bromide) Drug / Medicine Information

Metered Aerosol (CFC Free)

Ipratropium bromide

Consumer Medicine Information

What is in this leaflet

This leaflet answers some common questions about Atrovent Metered Aerosol.

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 Metered Aerosol 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 Metered Aerosol is used for

Atrovent Metered Aerosol is inhaled into the lungs for the maintenance treatment of difficulty in breathing, wheezing or coughing in:

asthma

chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, also called COPD.

Asthma is a disease 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.

COPD is a serious lung condition that can cause difficulty in breathing and constant coughing. The term COPD is associated with the conditions chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Symptoms of COPD include shortness of breath, cough, chest discomfort and coughing up phlegm.

Atrovent Metered Aerosol contains the active ingredient ipratropium bromide. It belongs to a group of medicines called anticholinergic bronchodilators.

Atrovent Metered Aerosol opens up the air passages in people suffering from asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

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 Metered Aerosol has been prescribed for you.

Your doctor may have prescribed Atrovent Metered Aerosol for another reason.

There is no evidence that Atrovent Metered Aerosol is addictive.

Atrovent Metered Aerosol is available only with a doctor's prescription.

Before you use Atrovent Metered Aerosol

When you must not use it

Do not use Atrovent Metered Aerosol 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 difficulty breathing

swelling of the face, lips, tongue or other parts of the body

rash, itching or hives on the skin.

Do not use Atrovent Metered Aerosol 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 Metered Aerosol, contact your doctor or pharmacist.

Before you start to use it

Tell your doctor 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 Metered Aerosol 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 Metered Aerosol during breastfeeding.

Tell your doctor 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.

If you have not told your doctor or pharmacist about any of the above, tell them before you start using Atrovent Metered Aerosol.

Using other medicines

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are using any other medicines, including any that you get without a prescription from your pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop.

Some medicines and Atrovent Metered Aerosol may interfere with each other. These include:

medicines used to treat heart problems such as adrenaline

medicines used to treat asthma or COPD such as theophylline, salbutamol and tiotropium.

These medicines may be affected by Atrovent Metered Aerosol, 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 and pharmacist have more information on medicines to be careful with or avoid while using Atrovent Metered Aerosol.

How to use Atrovent Metered Aerosol

Each puff must be properly inhaled through the mouth for Atrovent Metered Aerosol to work. At the end of this leaflet you will find instructions on how to use Atrovent Metered Aerosol correctly.

Follow all directions given to you by your doctor or pharmacist carefully.

They may differ from the information contained in this leaflet.

If you are not sure how to use the inhaler, ask your doctor or pharmacist for help.

Children should only use their inhaler on medical advice and with the help of an adult.

If you find it difficult to breathe in and use your inhaler 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:

2 to 4 puffs, three to four times daily (at regular intervals), up to a maximum of 16 puffs a day.

Children 6 to 12 years:

1 to 2 puffs, three to four times daily (at regular intervals), up to a maximum of 8 puffs a day.

Children under 6 years:

1 puff, three times daily (at regular intervals).

Depending on your condition and specific needs, your doctor may advise you to take a different dose.

When to use it

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 Metered Aerosol for as long as your doctor tells you.

Atrovent Metered Aerosol helps control your condition, but does not cure it. It is important to keep using it even if you feel well.

If you use 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 Metered Aerosol. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning.

You may need urgent medical attention.

Symptoms of an overdose may include:

a fast or irregular heart beat

dry mouth

blurred vision.

While you are using Atrovent Metered Aerosol

Things you must do

Stop using Atrovent Metered Aerosol and tell your doctor immediately if you get sudden tightness of the chest, coughing, wheezing or breathlessness immediately after using Atrovent Metered Aerosol.

These may be signs of a condition called bronchospasm.

If you have an Asthma or COPD Action Plan that you have agreed with your doctor, follow it closely at all times.

If you find that the usual dose of Atrovent Metered Aerosol 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 Metered Aerosol for as long as your doctor or pharmacist tells you.

Keep all your doctor's appointments so that your progress can be checked.

Make sure you keep Atrovent Metered Aerosol with you at all times.

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 Metered Aerosol.

This may mean that you have developed a serious eye condition called narrow-angle glaucoma. This can happen if the spray gets in your eyes.

Tell any other doctors, dentists, and pharmacists who are treating you that you are using Atrovent Metered Aerosol.

If you are about to be started on any new medicine, remind your doctor and pharmacist that you are using Atrovent Metered Aerosol.

If you plan to have surgery, tell the surgeon or anaesthetist that you are using Atrovent Metered Aerosol.

It may affect other medicines during surgery.

If you become pregnant while using Atrovent Metered Aerosol 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 Metered Aerosol to anyone else, even if they have the same condition as you.

Do not use Atrovent Metered Aerosol to treat any other complaints unless your doctor or pharmacist tells you to.

Do not stop using Atrovent Metered Aerosol, or lower the dosage, without checking with your doctor or pharmacist.

Do not allow the Atrovent Metered Aerosol spray to enter the eyes.

Things to be careful of

Be careful driving or operating machinery until you know how Atrovent Metered Aerosol affects you.

Atrovent Metered Aerosol 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 Metered Aerosol.

This medicine helps most people with asthma or COPD, 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 Metered Aerosol 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 Metered Aerosol. 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 your nearest hospital:

difficulty breathing or worsening of your breathing problems

spasm of the muscles around the voice box, causing choking

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, 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 that is making you feel unwell.

Other side effects not listed above may occur in some people.

After using Atrovent Metered Aerosol

Cleaning

Clean and dry your inhaler at least once a week.

It is important to keep your inhaler clean and dry. It may not work as well if it gets dirty. Follow the instructions at the end of this leaflet for cleaning your inhaler.

Storage

Keep your inhaler in a cool dry place where the temperature stays below 25°C.

Do not store Atrovent Metered Aerosol 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 or pharmacist tells you to stop using Atrovent Metered Aerosol or it has passed its expiry date, ask your pharmacist what to do with any that are left over.

Do not puncture the container or throw it into a fire.