Albuterol-Budesonide Combination Medication Name
The albuterol and budesonide combination is available as Symbicort (budesonide/formoterol) and more recently as Airsupra (albuterol/budesonide). 1, 2
Available Combination Products
Symbicort
- Contains budesonide (corticosteroid) and formoterol (long-acting beta2-agonist)
- Available as a metered-dose inhaler (MDI) or dry powder inhaler (Turbuhaler)
- Dosage strengths:
- 80/4.5 mcg per inhalation (low dose)
- 160/4.5 mcg per inhalation (higher dose)
- Indicated for maintenance treatment of asthma in patients 12 years and older 1, 3
- Administered twice daily
Airsupra (Newer Option)
- Contains albuterol (short-acting beta2-agonist) and budesonide (corticosteroid)
- Available in two strengths:
- 180 mcg albuterol/80 mcg budesonide (lower dose)
- 180 mcg albuterol/160 mcg budesonide (higher dose)
- Used as a rescue medication for asthma exacerbations 2
- As-needed dosing rather than scheduled maintenance therapy
Clinical Significance
The combination of a beta-agonist with a corticosteroid provides complementary effects:
- Beta-agonists (albuterol or formoterol) provide bronchodilation
- Corticosteroid (budesonide) addresses underlying airway inflammation
The higher-dose albuterol/budesonide combination (180/160 mcg) has been shown to reduce the risk of severe asthma exacerbations by 26% compared to albuterol alone when used as rescue medication 2.
Prescription Considerations
When prescribing these medications, it's important to specify:
- The exact product name (Symbicort or Airsupra)
- The strength (e.g., Symbicort 160/4.5 mcg)
- The dosing frequency (typically twice daily for Symbicort, as-needed for Airsupra)
- The number of inhalations per dose (typically 1-2 inhalations)
Important Distinctions
- Symbicort contains formoterol (long-acting beta2-agonist) while Airsupra contains albuterol (short-acting beta2-agonist)
- Symbicort is primarily used as maintenance therapy, while Airsupra is designed for rescue use
- Both products contain budesonide as the corticosteroid component
These combination products improve patient adherence by simplifying the treatment regimen and ensuring patients receive both medications simultaneously 4, 5.