Albuterol / ipratropium for COPD, Maintenance User Reviews

• cli...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 1, 2013

Albuterol / ipratropium "I could not live without Combivent. Now they come up with this Combivent Respimat, takes half a container to finally get the hang of it, and it's $238.00. I need to find something else for me because I cannot afford this every month."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 3, 2013

Albuterol / ipratropium "I am a veteran and also retired from the Dept. of Veterans Affairs. I have been using inhalers since 1986. I have to tell you, this is one of the most difficult inhalers to use. It takes two good hands to use. Think about all the veterans returning from combat with missing upper and/or lower extremities. Think about going back to the drawing board."

• Anonymous
• May 10, 2008

Albuterol / ipratropium "I strongly feel that without DuoNeb every four hours, up to five times a day, I would no longer be here. I qualify for a lung transplant, but because of my reaction to steroids, this is the next best thing, along with Serevent twice a day."

• KAY...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• June 16, 2018

Albuterol / ipratropium "I have had continuing problems with Combivent Respimat. It is supposed to have 120 doses for the month but has typically not lasted a full month. Last year, 2017, it averaged less than 25 days. For May and June of 2018, it barely lasts two weeks, and I am left without medication for the remainder of the month. Something is wrong with this product. I have talked to the company, sent them the defective inhalers, but the problem persists."

• Anonymous
• April 22, 2021

Albuterol / ipratropium "Well... I have found a workaround for the inhaler not giving you the correct amount of dosages. If you are crafty, open up the clear part of the inhaler and remove the threaded part, including the red pointer and small piece above, so it won't lock on you. Put it all back together, give it a good shake, and twist it normally with the inhaler straight up and down, and push the button. It's been my experience that it should last almost another week at least. But remember, you will have no indication when it does actually run out, so have a backup when leaving the house. Shush, don't tell anyone. I'm only telling because my inhaler would not give me the number of doses as advertised. I got tired of running out, and the pharmacist would not refill. Hope this helps you."

• Pol...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• March 19, 2021

Albuterol / ipratropium "I have been taking this med for 5 years. I didn't realize this medication reduces potassium levels and can cause uncontrollable muscle spasms. That side effect should be made much more clear because I have had uncontrollable toe spasms at night for 5 years and haven't had a good night's sleep in all that time. I stopped taking this med 3 days ago, and the spasms stopped. I now can sleep without interruption."

• Jen...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 24, 2020

Albuterol / ipratropium "My doctor switched me to this Combivent Respimat inhaler after I contacted her because I couldn't breathe. She wanted me to go to the hospital, but I refused due to COVID-19. She put me on steroids, antibiotics (one week), Combivent, and gave me an oximeter (with instructions that if my oxygen level goes down to 90, that I'm to go to the emergency room). As soon as I got the inhaler, I used it, within 15 minutes, I started coughing stuff up (phlegm), which I've done every morning. However, this was different. 2.5 hours later, no coughing. I might cough now and then, but nothing like before! Plus, I am now able to really take a breath in and blow my nose! This has changed my life! I've heard people complain about the taste or getting dizzy, etc. That's temporary. I've got my life back!"

• Anonymous
• September 6, 2011

Albuterol / ipratropium "Works great initially, especially if you are congested, but after a couple of weeks, now does nothing. Maybe my body just got too used to it? Does nothing now. Notice the drug interactions, doctor and pharmacist didn't say anything. Can make your heart race as well."

• Jok...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 4, 2019

Albuterol / ipratropium "Combivent does wonders, but like others have said, I have a problem with the inhaler itself. It never lasts the whole month because I've kept a log and never get the 120 dosages I'm supposed to get, and each one is different. So each month, at the end, I am left without because the pharmacy will not refill it yet."

• Boo...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 6, 2019

Albuterol / ipratropium "Started three weeks ago, and except for initial jitters the first few days, it has been helpful. Can't afford all those other COPD drugs, and my coughing was getting much worse. Fortunately, my PCP recommended I try this (not sure why the pulmonologist didn't - it is beyond me). Using 4x daily. Came here checking for side effects because I am constipated, which is really unusual for me. Not listed as a side effect here."

• Cli...
• May 25, 2018

Albuterol / ipratropium "Without a doubt, Combivent is absolutely the BEST inhaler on the market. It has both an anticholinergic drug (ipratropium bromide) AND a short-acting beta agonist (albuterol) in one inhaler. It works considerably better (for me at least) than using separate Spiriva (tiotropium bromide) and albuterol inhalers. The only 'downside' is the taste is not good, but the effectiveness improvement is well worth it."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• June 8, 2012

Albuterol / ipratropium "I've been on Combivent for years and then had an allergic reaction to it, which put me in the ER. Had severe skin burning and itching all over. Now have to stop it. It did help my breathing, so not happy about this allergic reaction happening to me."

• Dog...
• August 25, 2014

Albuterol / ipratropium "Switched from Symbicort. Combivent works much better than Symbicort or albuterol for me. My wheezing is allergy induced. Ipratropium addresses the allergic component. Seems wetter than other inhalers, which helps delivery."

• MKa...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• February 11, 2021

Albuterol / ipratropium "This was a very nice non-steroidal inhaler for six or seven years. Then it started wearing out in the last week of each monthly inhaler. I would start a new one, alternating with the old one. It seemed that the last 40 doses out of 120 were erratic in dosage. The last two inhalers seem to have problems with the spring mechanism, also erratic and in addition to the dosage problem. I have about 4 years of used inhalers, with dates and notes. I suspect they started with a new supplier a few years back."

• Joh...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• January 8, 2016

Albuterol / ipratropium "For those who prefer Combivent and can't get it, be advised it is still available in Mexico over the counter by its brand name. So if you have a friend who goes there, they can bring it back for you. Another option is to use Atrovent and Albuterol inhalers together as prescribed by your doctor, as I do. As the U.S. drug companies charge a lot for Atrovent. BTW, regular Albuterol/Salbutamol inhalers are less than $10 each when ordering UK generics."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 19, 2020

Albuterol / ipratropium "I don't have COPD, but I was having severe bronchospasms with my asthma, and my doctor prescribed this. It kept me out of the hospital. I could breathe so much better after he prescribed this that I actually managed to get to sleep. I am just starting on it, but the difference is definitely noticeable. The only issue I had was with the inhaler itself - it seems to have issues. The pharmacist even struggled with helping me to get it to work. Now that it is working finally, I am glad to have it as my new medication."

• eas...
• February 12, 2011

"I am recovering from the flu (worst flu ever). I usually use Advair. However, with all the mucus I have in my lungs, the Advair doesn't seem to work as well, so my doctor gave me a combination of albuterol and ipratropium. I wasn't sure how well this would work. Turns out it opened up my lungs, and I don't feel like I'm drowning in my chest congestion. Also using an expectorant to help rid my lungs of excess mucus from this illness. Looking forward to getting healthy again. Medicine tastes bad, but well worth the results. Looking forward to getting back to good health. Nothing like unobstructed breathing. Clear lung power to all."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 9, 2017

Albuterol / ipratropium "Not really impressed. Don't know if anyone else has had this issue, but when it gets to the red mark, it stops dispensing medicine, and, of course, can't get it replaced. Also, has been a few times when it didn't seem like anything was coming out, so had to double the dose, so then you have most of that month's wasted. Not happy at all. Have to wait for refill because, of course, you can only get one a month at a time, so then you have to go without your medicine. Real fun fighting to breathe. The company really needs to go back to the designers and come up with a better dispenser."

• Len...
• May 9, 2017

Albuterol / ipratropium "It was my first time to use Combivent. I was able to sleep well because I am not coughing the whole night, though I have a hard time breathing, as if there is something heavy on my chest, and I feel so tired. Thanks to this article, I just found out I belong to the 2% who experience such side effects."

• Gar...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• October 29, 2016

Albuterol / ipratropium "I have had constant problems with the new apparatus. Turning it to get it ready is hard for my arthritic hands. Half the time I accidentally hit the button and send a puff into the air, making me have to turn it again to get another puff again. I never coughed when the old one delivered its dosage, but this one makes me cough immediately. What's with that? I even have trouble getting the lid open. I just hate it."

• Sja...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 1, 2019

Albuterol / ipratropium "This drug about killed me! It worsened my condition, and I had to go to the ER on Christmas Eve, the second day I had taken it. I was down for 1 week, put on antibiotics and prednisone. Eight months later, my lungs are worse off than prior to taking this medication. It has obviously caused my lungs more damage."

• Tri...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• November 24, 2021

Albuterol / ipratropium "I frequently have noticed that the Combivent Respimat fails to dispense the medication after I have been using it. I have followed the instructions to the letter, and in order to get it to work, I have to rap the unit on a table several times. This has become a major PITA. They really need to provide a better working delivery system. I have had this problem with it for over 5 years."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 15, 2017

Albuterol / ipratropium "I used to take Combivent aerosol inhaler, and it was wonderful. They decided to make it non-aerosol, and it does not work. First off, anyone without two hands, or arthritis, or wrist issues could not even work the inhaler. That's wrong. I have two good hands, thank goodness, but the inhaler malfunctions all the time. At first, lots comes out, then slowly less and less over a month until I get no med. It doesn't help like it used to. Clogs up. Runs out before it says empty due to waste because of design flaws. I hate it. I don't even pay for it! Those paying hundreds-that's messed up. It's not worth $10 now."

• ezz...
• May 31, 2015

Albuterol / ipratropium "I'm 1 month in on trying this Respimat. It's terrible. I see the specialist tomorrow, and I went back on my morning once-a-day Spariva. I used the Combivent inhaler for extremely bad attacks where I might only use it 3-4 times in a month, and it was a lifesaver for me. It was my safety net. I hope they go back to the Combivent inhaler."

• Pet...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• August 13, 2019

Albuterol / ipratropium "I have COPD, going on 7 years and have used the Combivent Respimat since being diagnosed. I was on oxygen at first, asked to be removed from it. The Combivent was directed to be used 4 times a day, or as needed. I only used it 2 times for the first couple of years. I was also put on a maintenance inhaler, Advair FHA, that I didn't bother using, it didn't seem to help. Suddenly, I read that Combivent has a class action lawsuit because they were not honest about how many puffs for each inhaler. I have had good results with it, up until the last 3 months. I have no problem using it, except now about every other time I twist it, I can't get it to expel the mist. If I turn it a bit more, it expels it before I can get it to my mouth. ...take care all!"