Medication-info.com Search Menu

Atrovent HFA: Uses, Side Effects and Dosage

Updated:
Facts
Status:
Prescription (Rx)
Strength:
17 mcg
Drug class:
Active ingredient:
Similar drugs:

Source: FDA drug labeling via NLM DailyMed · About this document

Patient information: uses, side effects, how to take - Atrovent HFA

INSTRUCTIONS FOR USE

ATROVENT® HFA

(ipratropium bromide HFA)

Inhalation Aerosol, for oral inhalation use

Read this Instructions for Use before using your ATROVENT HFA and each time you get a refill. There may be new information. This leaflet does not take the place of talking with your healthcare provider about your medical condition or your treatment.

Use ATROVENT HFA exactly as your healthcare provider tells you to. Do not change your dose or how often you use ATROVENT HFA without talking with your healthcare provider.

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take. ATROVENT HFA may affect the way some other medicines work and some other medicines may affect the way ATROVENT HFA works.

Important information about using ATROVENT HFA

  • You do not have to shake ATROVENT HFA before using it.

  • ATROVENT HFA should be "primed" 2 times before you use the first dose of a new ATROVENT HFA inhaler or when the inhaler has not been used for more than 3 days.

    • To prime, push the canister against the mouthpiece (see Figure 1), allowing the medicine to spray into the air.
    • Do not spray the medicine into your eyes while priming ATROVENT HFA.

Inhaler Description

ATROVENT HFA Inhalation Aerosol (Figure 1) consists of a metal canister containing the medicine and a mouthpiece that releases the medicine from the canister. The mouthpiece includes a clear colorless sleeve, a white plastic portion and a green protective dust cap.

The inhaler comes with a dose indicator you can see through a small window on the plastic mouthpiece (see Figure 1). A new inhaler first shows "200" in the dose indicator window. The dose indicator will show the approximate number of actuations (sprays) of medicine remaining in the inhaler. As you use the inhaler, the dose indicator will typically rotate during every 5 to 7 actuations (sprays) towards the next decreasing number (see Figure 2).

Figure 1
Figure 2

Instructions for Use:

  1. 1.

    Insert the metal canister into the clear end of the mouthpiece (see Figure 1). Make sure the canister is fully and firmly inserted into the mouthpiece.

    • The ATROVENT HFA canister is to be used only with the ATROVENT HFA mouthpiece.
    • Do not use the ATROVENT HFA mouthpiece with other inhaled medicines.
  2. 2. Remove the green protective dust cap. If the cap is not on the mouthpiece, make sure there is nothing in the mouthpiece before use. For best results, the canister should be at room temperature before use.
  3. 3.

    Breathe out (exhale) deeply through your mouth. Hold the inhaler upright (see Figure 3). Put the mouthpiece in your mouth and close your lips.

    • Keep your eyes closed so that no medicine will be sprayed into your eyes. If sprayed into the eyes, ATROVENT HFA can cause blurry vision and other vision abnormalities, eye pain or discomfort, dilated pupils, or narrow-angle glaucoma or worsening of this condition. If any combination of these symptoms develops, you should consult your physician immediately.
Figure 3

  • Breathe in (inhale) slowly through your mouth and at the same time spray the ATROVENT HFA into your mouth.

    • To spray ATROVENT HFA firmly press the canister against the mouthpiece 1 time (see Figure 4). Keep breathing in deeply.
Figure 4
  • Hold your breath for ten seconds and then take the mouthpiece out of your mouth and breathe out slowly (see Figure 5).
Figure 5
  • Wait at least 15 seconds and repeat steps 3 to 5 again.
  • Replace the green protective dust cap after use.
  • Keep the mouthpiece clean. At least once a week, wash the mouthpiece, shake it to remove excess water and let it air dry all the way (see Mouthpiece Cleaning Instructions ).

Mouthpiece Cleaning Instructions:

Step A. Remove and set aside the canister and dust cap from the mouthpiece (see Figure 1).

Step B. Wash the mouthpiece through the top and bottom with warm running water for at least 30 seconds (see Figure 6). Do not use anything other than water to wash the mouthpiece.

Figure 6

Step C. Dry the mouthpiece by shaking off the excess water and allow it to air dry all the way.

Step D. When the mouthpiece is dry, replace the canister. Make sure the canister is fully and firmly inserted into the mouthpiece.

Step E. Replace the green protective dust cap.

If little or no medicine comes out of the mouthpiece, wash the mouthpiece as described in Steps A to E under the "Mouthpiece Cleaning Instructions".

  • When to get a new ATROVENT HFA inhaler.

    There are approximately 40 actuations (sprays) left when the dose indicator displays "40," where the background changes from green to red (see Figure 7a). This is when you need to refill your prescription or ask your doctor if you need another prescription for ATROVENT HFA inhalation aerosol.

    The background color will be all red when the indicator approaches 20. The indicator will stop moving at "0". Discard the inhaler once the dose indicator displays "0" (see Figure 7b). Even though the canister may not be empty, you cannot be sure of the amount of medicine in each actuation (spray) once the dose indicator displays "0".

Figure 7a
Figure 7b

This product does not contain any chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) propellants.

The contents of ATROVENT HFA are under pressure. Do not puncture the canister. Do not use or store near heat or open flame. Exposure to temperatures above 120°F may cause bursting. Never throw the container into a fire or incinerator.

Keep ATROVENT HFA and all medicines out of the reach of children.

Store ATROVENT HFA at room temperature 68°F to 77°F (20°C to 25°C). Short-term exposure to higher or lower temperatures [from 59°F (15°C) to 86°F (30°C)] is acceptable.

For more information about ATROVENT HFA including current prescribing information and Instructions for Use, go to www.atrovent.com, scan the code, or call Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc. at 1-800-542-6257.

This Instructions for Use has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Distributed by:

Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Ridgefield, CT 06877 USA

Licensed from:

Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH

ATROVENT® is a registered trademark of and used under license from Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH

Copyright © 2024 Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

COL9554BA022025

Revised: December 2024

About this document

Source: FDA drug labeling via NLM DailyMed · Application number: NDA 021527 · View the label on DailyMed

Revision date stated in the text: December 2024

Found a mistake? Write to us via the contact page.

The information on this site does not replace the advice of a doctor or pharmacist.

Drug information for Atrovent HFA

Rx or OTC
Prescription (Rx)?
  • This drug is available only with a prescription from a licensed healthcare provider.
  • Rx
Drug class Anticholinergic
Active ingredient Ipratropium bromide 17 mcg
Dosage form Aerosol, metered
Route Respiratory (inhalation)
Marketing status listed in the FDA NDC Directory
Company (applicant) BOEHRINGER INGELHEIM
FDA approval NDA 021527New Drug Application (NDA) Approved November 17, 2004
Reference listed drug This is the reference listed drug (RLD) that generics are compared with.
Therapeutic equivalence (TE) code ABCodes starting with A mean the FDA rates the drug therapeutically equivalent to its reference drug (Orange Book).
Manufacturers 1 labelers list this drug on DailyMed
Packages (NDC)
Package
17 mcg – 200 in 1 canister / 1 in 1 carton NDC 0597-0087-17

Source: FDA drug labeling via NLM DailyMed, data as of October 31, 2026. FDA data (DailyMed, Orange Book, Drug Shortages, enforcement reports). Not a substitute for the advice of a doctor or pharmacist.