Last reviewed 2026-05-14 · How we verify

Ipratropium/albuterol

Ipratropium/albuterol is a Combination bronchodilator (anticholinergic + beta-2 agonist) Small molecule drug developed by National Jewish Health. It is currently FDA-approved for Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), Acute bronchospasm in COPD patients. Also known as: Combivent®.

Ipratropium is an anticholinergic bronchodilator that blocks muscarinic receptors to relax airway smooth muscle, while albuterol is a beta-2 agonist that stimulates bronchodilation through a different pathway, providing complementary airway relaxation.

Ipratropium is an anticholinergic bronchodilator that blocks muscarinic receptors to relax airway smooth muscle, while albuterol is a beta-2 agonist that stimulates bronchodilation through a different pathway, providing complementary airway relaxation. Used for Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), Acute bronchospasm in COPD patients.

At a glance

Mechanism of action

Ipratropium works by antagonizing muscarinic acetylcholine receptors on airway smooth muscle, preventing acetylcholine-induced bronchoconstriction. Albuterol activates beta-2 adrenergic receptors, increasing intracellular cAMP and causing smooth muscle relaxation. Together, these agents with different mechanisms provide enhanced bronchodilation compared to either agent alone.

Approved indications

• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
• Acute bronchospasm in COPD patients

Common side effects

• Tremor
• Headache
• Nervousness
• Palpitations
• Dry mouth
• Throat irritation

Key clinical trials

• Magnesium Trial in Acute Asthma in Emergency Department (PHASE3)
• Nebulized Ketamine Plus Standard Care vs. Standard Care Alone in Moderate to Severe Asthma Exacerbations (PHASE2)
• The Effect of Nebulized Epinephrine in Asthma Exacerbation in Pediatric Age Group With the Standard Treatment Compared to Standard Treatment Using Improvement PRAM Score as a Primary Outcome (PHASE4)
• Neural Respiratory Drive of Patients With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (NA)
• A Comparative Study of Adding Ipratropium to Salbutamol for the Treatment of Asthma Attack in Children (PHASE4)
• Bronchodilators and Lung Mechanics During Exercise in COPD (PHASE4)
• Ventilator Adapters for Combivent Respimat (PHASE4)
• Differential Mechanisms of Dyspnea Relief in Advanced COPD: Opiates vs. Bronchodilators (PHASE4)

Primary sources

Every claim on this page is sourced from regulatory or scientific primary sources. See our editorial policy for full methodology.

Competitive intelligence

For the full competitive landscape — auto-detected comparators, recent regulatory actions across the set, upcoming PDUFA, patent timeline, sponsor landscape:

• Ipratropium/albuterol CI brief — competitive landscape report
• Ipratropium/albuterol updates RSS · CI watch RSS
• National Jewish Health portfolio CI

Frequently asked questions about Ipratropium/albuterol

Related

• Drug class: All Combination bronchodilator (anticholinergic + beta-2 agonist) drugs
• Target: All drugs targeting Muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (ipratropium); beta-2 adrenergic receptor (albuterol)
• Manufacturer: National Jewish Health — full pipeline
• Therapeutic area: All drugs in Respiratory/Pulmonology
• Indication: Drugs for Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
• Indication: Drugs for Acute bronchospasm in COPD patients
• Also known as: Combivent®

Primary sources · FDA · ClinicalTrials.gov · EMA · SEC EDGAR · ChEMBL · Wikidata · full sourcing