Combivent Uses: An Overview
Combivent inhalers (in their current form) will not be made, dispensed, or sold in the United States after December 31, 2013. Combivent contains chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), chemicals that deplete the ozone layer. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has set this final date for this medication in order to comply with the Montreal Protocol on Substances That Deplete the Ozone Layer. The manufacturer of Combivent is working on a reformulated, CFC-free version and hopes it will be available to consumers in time for the 2013 phase-out of the old formulation.
What Is Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease?
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a lung disease in which the lungs are damaged, leading to breathing problems. In people who have COPD, the airways (the tubes that carry air into and out of the lungs) are partly obstructed, making it difficult to breathe. Chronic bronchitis and emphysema are two kinds of COPD. While smoking is the most common cause, there are other possible
causes of COPD. Common COPD symptoms may include:
- Wheezing (a whistling or squeaky sound when you breathe)
- Sputum (mucus) production
- Coughing
- Shortness of breath, especially with exercise
- Chest tightness.
Depending on the severity of your COPD, your healthcare provider may recommend a number of medications as part of your COPD treatment, including:
- Bronchodilators
- Steroids (such as inhaled steroids)
- A yearly flu shot
- Pneumococcal vaccine.
Lifestyle changes are also recommended
(see Living With COPD and COPD Rehabilitation). Combivent is a bronchodilator, which means that it helps to open up the airways. The medication is approved for use in people who have already tried one of the components of Combivent (
ipratropium or
albuterol) and continue to have breathing problems.
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