User:Mr. Ibrahem/Ipratropium bromide

Ipratropium bromide, sold under the trade name Atrovent among others, is a medication which opens up the medium and large airways in the lungs. It is used to treat the symptoms of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma. It is used by inhaler or nebulizer. Onset of action is typically within 15 to 30 minutes and lasts for three to five hours.

Common side effects include dry mouth, cough, and inflammation of the airways. Potentially serious side effects include urinary retention, worsening spasms of the airways, and a severe allergic reaction. It appears to be safe in pregnancy and breastfeeding. Ipratropium is a muscarinic antagonist, a type of anticholinergic, which works by causing smooth muscles to relax.

Ipratropium bromide was patented in 1966, and approved for medical use in 1974. It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines. Ipratropium is available as a generic medication and is not expensive. The wholesale price in the developing world is about US$6.60 for a 200 dose inhaler. In the United States, a month worth of medication costs 100 to US$200. In 2017, it was the 216th most commonly prescribed medication in the United States, with more than two million prescriptions.