From the Guidelines
Symbicort is a combination inhaler containing budesonide, an inhaled corticosteroid, and formoterol, a long-acting beta-agonist, used to treat asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) by reducing inflammation and relaxing airway muscles. According to the American College of Chest Physicians and Canadian Thoracic Society guideline 1, combination inhaled corticosteroid and long-acting beta-agonist therapy, such as Symbicort, reduces the number of exacerbations, improves lung function, health-related quality of life, and dyspnea, and reduces the use of rescue medication compared to long-acting beta-agonist therapy alone. Some key points to consider when using Symbicort include:
- It is typically prescribed to be used twice daily, with common dosages ranging from 80/4.5 mcg to 160/4.5 mcg per inhalation, depending on the severity of the condition 1.
- Patients should rinse their mouth after use to prevent thrush, a fungal infection.
- Symbicort is not for immediate relief of sudden breathing problems; a rescue inhaler should be used for those situations.
- Side effects may include throat irritation, headache, and increased risk of respiratory infections, with a 4% increased risk of pneumonia compared to long-acting beta-agonist alone 1. It's essential to use Symbicort regularly as prescribed, even when feeling well, as it works best with consistent use, and to monitor for potential side effects and adjust treatment as needed.
From the FDA Drug Label
The FDA drug label does not answer the question.
From the Research
Definition of Symbicort
- Symbicort is a combination medication that contains budesonide, an inhaled corticosteroid, and formoterol, a long-acting beta-agonist (LABA) 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
- It is used as a maintenance and reliever inhalation therapy for the treatment of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) 4, 6.
Components of Symbicort
- Budesonide: an inhaled corticosteroid that helps to reduce inflammation in the airways 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
- Formoterol: a long-acting beta-agonist (LABA) that helps to relax the muscles in the airways and improve breathing 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
Uses of Symbicort
- Treatment of asthma: Symbicort is used to control symptoms of asthma and prevent exacerbations 3, 5, 6.
- Treatment of COPD: Symbicort is used to control symptoms of COPD and prevent exacerbations 2, 4.
- Maintenance and reliever therapy: Symbicort can be used as both a maintenance medication to control symptoms and a reliever medication to treat breakthrough symptoms 6.