From the Guidelines
Symbicort is not recommended for acute viral bronchitis. According to the Chest expert panel report 1, for immunocompetent adult outpatients with cough due to acute bronchitis, it is suggested that no routine prescription of inhaled corticosteroids, such as those found in Symbicort, be given until such treatments have been shown to be safe and effective at making cough less severe or resolve sooner.
Key Points to Consider
- Acute viral bronchitis is typically a self-limiting condition that resolves within 1-3 weeks without specific treatment.
- The initial clinical evaluation is important in the longitudinal care of patients, as some cases may be related to underlying conditions like mild asthma, as found in a retrospective study of 46 patients 1.
- Treatment should focus on symptom management with rest, adequate hydration, and over-the-counter medications like acetaminophen or NSAIDs for fever and discomfort.
- A honey-based cough suppressant may help with cough symptoms.
- Antibiotics, as well as other therapies including Symbicort, are not effective against viral infections and should be avoided unless there is clear evidence of a complicating bacterial infection or another condition that would benefit from such treatment, as suggested by the expert panel report 1.
Considerations for Symbicort Use
- Using Symbicort for acute bronchitis could unnecessarily expose patients to potential side effects without providing significant benefit.
- If symptoms persist beyond 3 weeks, worsen significantly, or if you have underlying respiratory conditions, consult your healthcare provider for appropriate management, which may include targeted investigations and treatments based on the etiology of the condition, as recommended by the Chest expert panel report 1.
From the Research
Symbicort for Acute Viral Bronchitis
- The use of Symbicort (budesonide/formoterol) for acute viral bronchitis is not directly addressed in the provided studies 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
- However, the studies suggest that acute bronchitis is usually caused by viral infections, and symptoms typically last about three weeks 2, 3.
- The treatment options for acute bronchitis are primarily focused on symptomatic relief, and antibiotics are generally not indicated unless pertussis is suspected or the patient is at increased risk of developing pneumonia 2, 3, 4.
- Symbicort is a combination of budesonide (an inhaled corticosteroid) and formoterol (a long-acting beta2-agonist), which is commonly used for the treatment of asthma 5, 6.
- There is evidence to suggest that budesonide/formoterol can be effective in improving pulmonary ventilation function and reducing inflammatory markers in patients with mild-to-moderate acute exacerbations of bronchial asthma 6.
- However, the effectiveness of Symbicort for acute viral bronchitis specifically is not well-established, and more research is needed to determine its potential benefits and risks in this context.
Treatment Options for Acute Bronchitis
- The treatment options for acute bronchitis are primarily focused on symptomatic relief, and may include:
- The use of antibiotics is generally not recommended unless pertussis is suspected or the patient is at increased risk of developing pneumonia 2, 3, 4.
- The supplement pelargonium may help reduce symptom severity in adults with acute bronchitis 2.
Symbicort for Asthma
- Symbicort (budesonide/formoterol) is a commonly used treatment for asthma, and has been shown to be effective in improving pulmonary ventilation function and reducing inflammatory markers in patients with mild-to-moderate asthma 5, 6.
- The combination of budesonide and formoterol has been shown to be more effective than budesonide alone in improving peak expiratory flow and symptom control in patients with asthma 5.
- Adjustable maintenance dosing with budesonide/formoterol has been shown to be associated with a lower overall dosage and improved symptom control compared to fixed dosing 5.