Ipratropium Bromide

Ipratropium is an anticholinergic drug. It blocks the muscarinic cholinergic receptors in the smooth muscles of the bronchi in the lungs. This opens the bronchi, and provides relief in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and acute asthma.

It is administered by inhalation for the treatment of obstructive lung diseases. Ipratropium is also combined with albuterol for the management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma. Ipratropium is also combined with fenoterol for the management of asthma. Ipratropium can reduce rhinorrhea but will not help nasal congestion.

It blocks muscarinic cholinergic receptors, without specificity for subtypes, resulting in a decrease in the formation of cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP). Most likely due to actions of cGMP on intracellular calcium, this results in decreased contractility of smooth muscle in the lung, inhibiting bronchoconstriction and mucus secretion. It is a non-selective muscarinic antagonist, and does not diffuse into the blood, which prevents systemic side-effects. Ipratropium is a derivative of atropine but is a quaternary amine and therefore does not cross the blood-brain barrier, which prevents central side-effects (anticholinergic syndrome). Ipratropium is considered a short-acting bronchodilator.

Systematic (IUPAC) name : [8-methyl-8-(1-methylethyl)- 8-azoniabicyclo[3.2.1] oct-3-yl] 3-hydroxy-2-phenyl-propanoate

CAS number : 60205-81-4

ATC code : R01AX03 R03BB01

PubChem : CID 43232

IUPHAR ligand : 325

DrugBank : APRD00537

ChemSpider : 19962157 

UNII : GR88G0I6UL 

Formula : C20H30NO3

Mol. mass : 332.457 g/mol

Protein binding : 0 to 9% in vitro

Metabolism : Hepatic

Half-life : 2 hours