Ipratropium is taken through inhalation into the lungs. In the lungs it will act topically and then be absorbed into the blood using the transporter solute carrier family 22 member 4 which is highly present in the bronchials. Some will be exhaled as well as some swallowed into the gastrointestinal tract for digestion. Ipratropium in the blood will majorly pass by the liver, but a small amount enters the liver through a drug transporter such as solute carrier family 22 member 4. In the endoplasmic reticulum of the liver Ipratropium is broken down into matabolites. It makes N-isopropylnortropium methobromide, N-isopropylnortropine-ester methobromide and Phenylacetic acid, and N-isopropylnortropium bromide from unknown Cytochrome P450 enzymes. These metabolites leave the liver through a transporter like Multidrug resistance-associated protein 1 into the blood where they will travel to the kidneys, or it is transported into the bile where it travels to the intestines. 80-100% is excreted renally when inhaled. The majority is excreted as unchanged Ipratropium.

Ipratropium Metabolism References