If you have asthma or any form of COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), you generally will start off your treatment with albuterol alone or some other form of bronchodilator inhaled medication. If that is not working, your physician may prescribe Combivent, which is a brand name of a combination of albuterol sulfate and ipratropium bromide. These are both bronchodilators that can work together via either an aerosol or a nebulizer. A number of possible side effects are both common and serious, and the Mayo Clinic recommends contacting your physician immediately if you experience any of them.
Breathing
Although the combination of albuterol sulfate and ipratropium bromide in Combivent is used to help clear the airways and thus make it easier to breathe, the medication also have the opposite effect in some people. You may find you have breathing difficulties after inhaling Combivent or may experience congestion of your nasal passages. You also may sneeze, feel chest tightness, wheeze or have shortness of breath.
Pain
Combivent also may produce generalized pain or aches virtually anywhere in the body. This may include such signs as muscle pain, abdominal pain, headaches and throat soreness. There also is the potential for pain in the chest, Rxlist.com states.
Flu-Like Side Effects
It is also possible for people taking Combivent to experience flu-like symptoms. These may include a runny nose, congestion in the ears, fever and a cough that may or may not produce mucus. These adverse reactions may occur because the body is reacting inappropriately to the combination of albuterol and ipratropium.
Other Side Effects
People taking Combivent may lose their voice. Combivent may also potentially cause the user to feel extraordinarily tired or weak. A typical scenario is fatigue, weakness or tiredness after physical exertion. This kind of bodily exhaustion as a side effect of Combivent is not related to a discernible cause.
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