Drug interactions
Formoterol + Ipratropium-salbutamol
Severity: Moderate
Formoterol and Ipratropium-salbutamol: moderate interaction.
Last updated
For healthcare professionals — reference only. This page is a brief summary, not medical advice and not a substitute for official labeling or clinical judgement. Always verify before prescribing or dispensing.
Summary
Formoterol and salbutamol are both beta-2 agonists, so using them together duplicates therapy. This increases the risk of tachycardia, tremor, palpitations and hypokalemia. Concurrent use can be intentional when salbutamol is used as reliever, but excessive total dosing is hazardous.
What this interaction means in plain words
Formoterol and Ipratropium-salbutamol can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken.
Formoterol belongs to Respiratory; Ipratropium-salbutamol belongs to Respiratory.
Why it happens
Additive beta-2 adrenergic receptor stimulation causing cardiac stimulation and potassium shift into cells.
What to do
Avoid regular use of two beta-agonists, and limit salbutamol to occasional reliever use. Monitor heart rate, tremor and potassium in patients with high use or cardiac disease.
What to ask your pharmacist
- Should I take them at different times of day?
- Does the dose of either medicine need to change?
- Is there anything I should avoid, such as alcohol or certain foods, while on both?
Pro+ members
Unlock the full page
Create an account and start a Pro+ trial to unlock the full management advice for Formoterol and Ipratropium-salbutamol, the additional notes, the evidence detail and the whole-prescription interaction checker.
- Full clinical management advice
- Additional notes
- Evidence detail
- Interaction checker for a whole prescription
Try Pro+ free for 7 days on the web. No card needed.
Other interactions of Ipratropium-salbutamol
Other interactions of Formoterol
- Adagrasib + Formoterol Major
- Amiodarone + Formoterol Major
- Amisulpride + Formoterol Major
- Amitriptyline + Formoterol Major
- Amoxapine + Formoterol Major
- Arformoterol + Formoterol Major
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Formoterol with Ipratropium-salbutamol?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Formoterol and Ipratropium-salbutamol can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken. Formoterol and salbutamol are both beta-2 agonists, so using them together duplicates therapy. This increases the risk of tachycardia, tremor, palpitations and hypokalemia. Concurrent use can be intentional when salbutamol is used as reliever, but excessive total dosing is hazardous.
How serious is the interaction between Formoterol and Ipratropium-salbutamol?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Avoid regular use of two beta-agonists, and limit salbutamol to occasional reliever use. Monitor heart rate, tremor and potassium in patients with high use or cardiac disease.
What other medicines interact with Ipratropium-salbutamol?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Ipratropium-salbutamol with, for example, Amisulpride, Arsenic trioxide, Carvedilol. The full list is on the Ipratropium-salbutamol page.
Full monographs, dosing and an interaction checker in the MediHelp app
Open the complete reference, check multi-drug interactions and use dosing tools in the MediHelp app.
