Combivent
Salbutamol · Ipratropium bromide
Combivent pairs salbutamol with ipratropium bromide in one pressurised inhaler for COPD and chronic bronchitis, easing wheeze, chest tightness and breathlessness.
All strengths and pack prices
| Strength | Pack | Price | Per inhaler |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50/20mcg | 1 inhaler | $28.89 | $28.89 |
| 50/20mcg | 3 inhalers | $76.50 | $25.50 |
| 50/20mcg | 6 inhalers | $132.60 | $22.10 |
- Category
- Respiratory Health
- Active ingredient
- Salbutamol · Ipratropium bromide
- Route
- Inhalation
- Form
- Inhalation aerosol
- Strengths
- 50/20mcg
You will receive a quality generic equivalent, depending on stock.
Shipped in a discreet, unmarked envelope.
Details
- Conditions
- COPD · Chronic bronchitis
- Therapeutic Class
- Bronchodilator
- Pharmacological Class
- Beta-2 agonist, Anticholinergic
- Minor Side Effects
- Dry mouth, Cough
- Moderate Side Effects
- Tremor, Palpitations, Nervousness
- Dosage Forms
- Inhalation aerosol
- Administration Route
- Inhalation
- Originator
- Boehringer Ingelheim
- Onset Time
- 15 minutes
- Duration
- 4–6 hours
- Storage Instructions
- Store at room temperature; do not puncture the canister.
- Drug Interactions
- Beta-blockers, Other anticholinergics
What you will receive
Combivent is the originator brand name, made by Boehringer Ingelheim. We use it to identify the medicine; the pack you receive is a generic equivalent, not the original Combivent.
- The same active ingredient (Salbutamol / Ipratropium bromide) at the same strength.
- The exact brand supplied depends on what is in stock when your order ships.
FAQ
Which Combivent strengths and pack sizes can I order?
Combivent comes as inhalers. You can order packs of 1, 3 or 6 inhalers. Larger packs cost less per inhaler. It is generic salbutamol + ipratropium bromide, not the original Combivent.
How are generic salbutamol + ipratropium bromide inhalers delivered to Hong Kong?
Your generic salbutamol + ipratropium bromide inhalers arrive by tracked courier, taking 5 to 9 business days with online tracking. Every order ships in plain, unbranded packaging with nothing outside about the contents. If a parcel does not arrive within the delivery window, or arrives damaged, it is sent again free.
What are the alternative names for Combivent?
Combivent is a brand name of salbutamol and ipratropium bromide, which are also sold as DuoNeb. Here, salbutamol and ipratropium bromide can be bought online as generic Combivent. These are generics, not the original brand.
How long does a dose of Combivent last?
Relief starts within a few minutes and one dose lasts roughly four to six hours, which is why the inhaler is used several times across the day. It is a short-acting pair, so it cannot stand in for a once-daily preventer.
What is the difference between Combivent and a salbutamol inhaler?
A salbutamol inhaler holds one bronchodilator. Combivent holds two: salbutamol plus ipratropium bromide, which blocks a different set of nerve signals to the airway muscle. That gives two routes to open the airways, and it is the usual step up in COPD when salbutamol alone leaves symptoms behind.
Can I use a spacer with this inhaler?
Yes, and it is a good idea if you find it hard to press and breathe in together. The spacer is a plastic tube between canister and mouth. The spray slows down inside it, so you breathe it in at your own pace and less of it ends up on your tongue and throat.
Why does the canister need shaking?
The two drugs are suspended in a propellant, and they settle if the canister stands. Shaking for a few seconds spreads them again, so the first puff and the last carry the same mix of salbutamol and ipratropium.
How do I know when the inhaler is empty?
Look for a dose counter on the canister; it counts down with each puff. Without one, work it out yourself: divide the number of doses on the pack by the puffs you take daily, and mark that date. Past it, a puff may hold less medicine than it should.
About Combivent
Two bronchodilators in one canister
Combivent is a pressurised metered-dose inhaler that carries two medicines for opening the airways. Salbutamol belongs to the beta-2 agonist group: it loosens the band of muscle wrapped around the bronchial tubes. Ipratropium bromide is an anticholinergic, meaning it blocks the nerve messages that tell that muscle to squeeze. Because the pair acts on two different switches, it is used in COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lasting lung damage that leaves the airways narrowed) and in chronic bronchitis, the long-running cough-and-mucus form of it. A puff eases wheeze, a tight chest and breathlessness within minutes, and the effect wears off after a few hours.
Getting the dose into your lungs
Most adults take one or two puffs, up to four times a day. Hold the canister upright and shake it. Breathe out, close your lips round the mouthpiece and press as a slow, deep breath in begins; then count a few seconds before breathing out. Pressing and breathing at the same moment trips plenty of people up, and a spacer chamber takes the timing out of it. Do not wait for a bad spell: the inhaler works best as a steady routine. Spray that reaches the eyes can sting and blur vision, thanks to the ipratropium, and a mouth rinse afterwards gets rid of the dry, bitter aftertaste.
What it can cause
A dry mouth and throat is what most people notice, along with headache, trembling hands and a heartbeat that feels faster or stronger than usual. These tend to settle as the body adjusts. Cough, a hoarse voice and muscle cramps turn up in some people. Breathing that becomes worse in the minutes after a puff needs urgent treatment, as do chest pain, a racing or irregular pulse, or swelling of the face, lips or tongue.
Other medicines, and looking after the canister
Beta-blocker tablets, propranolol among them, act against salbutamol and can tighten the airways instead of opening them. Other bronchodilators, steroid tablets and some water tablets (diuretics) add to the strain salbutamol puts on the heart rate and to the fall in blood potassium it can cause. Keep the inhaler upright with its cap on, out of direct sun and away from fires, heaters and hot cars. Never pierce a canister or drop one into a fire; pressurised metal can burst even when it feels empty.
Sources
- Albuterol: MedlinePlus Drug Information — MedlinePlus / National Library of Medicine
- Atrovent Inhaler CFC-Free - Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) - (emc) | 61 — UK Electronic Medicines Compendium (EMC)