I am currently in a pediatric med-surg class and my professor is an ER nurse. She told us that for an emergent pediatric asthma patient, a dose of Albuterol is given and then Ipratropium. However, only one dose of Ipratropium can be given and then Albuterol is administered again. Why is this? The only thing I am finding is the medications have the potential to cause paradoxial bronchospasms and hypoglecmia. I feel this is more of a side effect of the two medications as opposed to a potential interaction between the two medications. I was hoping someone knew why only one dose of Ipratropium can be administered after Albuterol.Thank you so much for the help!
allnurses Guide OldDude 1 Article; 4,787 Posts Specializes in Pediatrics Retired. Nov 10, 2017 I don't know about the supposed side effects but I've worked in a pedi Urgent Care for over 10 years and we mix Atrovent and Albuterol and administer in the same neb treatment.
TMarie143 2 Posts Nov 10, 2017 I don't know about the supposed side effects but I've worked in a pedi Urgent Care for over 10 years and we mix Atrovent and Albuterol and administer in the same neb treatment.DuoNeb right? I read about this when I was trying to find the answer.
allnurses Guide OldDude 1 Article; 4,787 Posts Specializes in Pediatrics Retired. Nov 10, 2017 DuoNeb right? I read about this when I was trying to find the answer.Yes, both meds go into the neb chamber.
MunoRN, RN 8,058 Posts Specializes in Critical Care. Has 10 years experience. Nov 10, 2017 The duration of action of ipratropium is 2-3 times that of albuterol, which is why duo-neb or plain ipratropium is typically given every 4-6 hours, if additional albuterol is required in between those doses then plain albuterol is used. Keep in mind that albuterol actually contains two active ingredients; S-albuterol and R-albuterol. The R-albuterol is what provides the beneficial effects, S-albuterol is a byproduct of producing R-albuterol, S-albuterol causes bronchoconstriction and airway inflammation and appears responsible for the paradoxical effects of albuterol. Ipratropium helps treat the negative effects of albuterol, or you could just avoid the S-albuterol all together and use levalbuterol which just the beneficial R-albuterol without the harmful S-albuterol.
