The most common side effects associated with ipratropium are dry mouth, cough, headache, nausea, dizziness, and difficulty breathing. Ipratropium can cause bronchospasms that can be life-threatening. It can also cause rash, itching, or serious allergic reactions involving closure of the airways. Because of its anticholinergic effect it may worsen symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia and narrow-angle glaucoma.

Intranasal ipratropium is used for treating allergic or nonallergic rhinitis and rhinitis due to the common cold. Oral ipratropium is used for treating acute asthma flares and bronchospasms resulting from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (chronic bronchitis or emphysema).