The combination of albuterol and ipratropium, sold under several brand names, including Duoneb, helps to keep lung disease symptoms under control. The medications are both classified as bronchodilators that help open airways through inhalation. People use Duoneb by emptying the pre-filled vials into a mouthpiece of a nebulizer. The machine changes the liquid into a mist for oral inhalation. The medicine can help people with asthma or with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease such as emphysema and bronchitis, but it is not without side effects.
Flu-Like Syndrome
Inhaling Duoneb vapors can cause a serious common side effect known as flu-like syndrome. As the name suggests, this side effect can produce bodily symptoms that appear as though produced by the flu. For example, aperson using Duoneb can develop a fever along with chills. She may produce mucus through coughing, and she may have sneezing and rhinitis or a runny nose. If these symptoms appear connected to using the Duoneb treatment, they can indicate serious medical problems, according to the Mayo Clinic reports. The organization recommends an immediate physician consultation for such problems.
Pain
The serious common side effect of pain may occur in a person taking a Duoneb treatment. Pain can occur as headaches, a sore throat or as pain and aches throughout the body. Even though these occurrences of pain may not appear serious, they classify as such, the Mayo Clinic reports, and they require attention from a doctor.
Breathing Problems
While Duoneb works to alleviate breathing problems associated with lung diseases, it also can induce some. These common serious side effects include labored breathing and shortness of breath. A person using the drug also may produce a high-pitched sound when exhaling that is called wheezing. These effects can indicate serious problems.
Nausea and Taste Problems
The ingestion of albuterol and ipratropium through anebulizer can create some non-serious common side effects such as making the person feel nauseous. This minor problem may accompany a sensation of an abnormal taste in the person's mouth. Drugs.com suggests getting medical help for these problems if they continue or are severe. Otherwise, these side effects usually dissipate as the person's body grows accustomed to having the medicine in the system.
Insomnia
Duoneb treatments also can induce sleeping problems, particularly insomnia. The person may not have the ability to fall asleep during the initial few treatments with the medication, but insomnia typically ends without medical intervention, Drugs.com indicates.
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