Yes, Symbicort Contains a Steroid
Symbicort contains budesonide, which is a corticosteroid (steroid), combined with formoterol, a long-acting beta2-agonist bronchodilator 1.
Composition Details
Symbicort is a fixed-dose combination inhaler containing two active components:
Budesonide: An anti-inflammatory corticosteroid with potent glucocorticoid activity. It has approximately 200-fold higher affinity for the glucocorticoid receptor and 1000-fold higher topical anti-inflammatory potency than cortisol 1.
Formoterol fumarate: A long-acting selective beta2-adrenergic agonist (LABA) that acts as a bronchodilator with rapid onset of action 1.
Available Strengths
Symbicort comes in two formulations 1:
- Symbicort 80/4.5: Delivers 80 mcg budesonide + 4.5 mcg formoterol per actuation
- Symbicort 160/4.5: Delivers 160 mcg budesonide + 4.5 mcg formoterol per actuation
Clinical Significance
The steroid component (budesonide) treats the underlying airway inflammation in asthma and COPD, while formoterol provides bronchodilation 2. This combination addresses two different components of respiratory disease - the inflammatory process and airway obstruction - making it more effective than either component alone 3.
The presence of the corticosteroid is what makes Symbicort a controller medication, not just a reliever, and is responsible for its anti-inflammatory effects that reduce exacerbations and improve long-term asthma control 4, 5.