Ipratropium (Nasal)

Brand name(s): Atrovent

Proper Use of This Medicine

It is very important that you use ipratropium nasal spray only as directed . Do not use more of it and do not use it more often than your doctor ordered. To do so may increase the chance of side effects.

Keep the nasal spray away from your eyes. If the nasal spray gets in your eyes, immediately flush your eyes with cool tap water for several minutes. If you get the nasal spray in your eyes, you may experience an increased sensitivity to light (which may last a few hours), blurring of vision, or eye pain. If eye pain or blurred vision occurs, check with your doctor as soon as possible.

Ipratropium nasal spray usually comes with patient directions. Read them carefully before using this medicine.

If you do not understand the directions or if you are not sure how to use the ipratropium nasal spray, ask your health care professional to show you how to use it.

When you use the nasal spray for the first time or if you have not used it for a while, the spray device may not deliver the right amount of medicine with the first spray. Therefore, before using the nasal spray, prime the device to make sure it works properly.

To prime the nasal spray device:

• The nasal spray pump must be primed before the nasal spray is used for the first time.
• To prime the pump, hold the bottle with your thumb at the base and your index and middle fingers on the white shoulder area. Make sure the bottle points upright and away from your eyes.
• Press your thumb firmly and quickly against the bottle seven times. The pump is now primed and can be used.
• Your pump should not have to be reprimed unless you have not used the medication for more than 24 hours. Repriming the pump will only require two sprays. However, if you have not used your nasal spray for more than seven days, repriming the pump will require seven sprays.

To use the nasal spray:

• Before using the nasal spray, blow your nose gently to clear your nostrils.
• Remove the clear plastic dust cap and the green safety clip from the nasal spray pump. The safety clip prevents the accidental discharge of the spray when you are not using it.
• Close one nostril by gently placing your finger against the side of your nose, tilt your head slightly forward and, keeping the bottle upright, insert the nasal tip into the other nostril. Point the tip toward the back and outer side of the nose.
• Press firmly and quickly upwards with the thumb at the base while holding the white shoulder portion of the pump between your index and middle fingers. Do not breathe in while spraying.
• After spraying the nostril and removing the unit, sniff deeply and breathe out through the nose. Tilt your head backwards for a few seconds to let the spray spread over the back of the nose.
• Repeat these steps for the second spray in the first nostril and for the two sprays in the other nostril.
• Replace the clear plastic dust cap and the green safety clip.
• You should not take extra doses of the nasal spray without checking with your doctor.

To clean the nasal spray device:

• If the nasal tip becomes clogged, remove the clear plastic dust cap and the green safety clip.
• Hold the nasal tip under running warm tap water for about a minute.
• Dry the nasal tip, reprime the nasal spray pump (see above, To prime the nasal spray device), and replace the clear plastic dust cap and green safety clip.

Dosing-

The dose of ipratropium nasal spray will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of ipratropium nasal spray. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so:

• For the 0.03% nasal spray:
  • For runny nose associated with allergic and nonallergic perennial rhinitis:
    • Adults and children 6 years of age and older-2 sprays of the 0.03% nasal solution into each nostril two or three times a day.
    • Children up to 6 years of age-Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
• For the 0.06% nasal spray:
  • For runny nose associated with the common cold:
    • Adults and children 5 years of age and older-2 sprays of the 0.06% nasal solution into each nostril three or four times a day. Do not use the medicine for more than 4 days.
    • Children up to 5 years of age-Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.

Missed dose-

If you are using ipratropium nasal spray regularly and you miss a dose of this medicine, use it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

Storage-

To store this medicine:

• Keep out of the reach of children.
• Store away from heat and direct sunlight.
• Keep the medicine from freezing.
• Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed. Be sure that any discarded medicine is out of the reach of children.

Last Revised: 06/11/1999

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