From the Guidelines
A prescription for generic Symbicort typically includes budesonide and formoterol, with a strength of 80/4.5 mcg or 160/4.5 mcg per inhalation, and instructions for use of 2 inhalations twice daily. The prescription will also indicate the quantity, typically one inhaler containing 120 doses, and the number of refills authorized. Generic versions may be labeled as "budesonide/formoterol fumarate dihydrate inhalation aerosol" 1. The prescription might include specific instructions like "Rinse mouth after use to prevent thrush" and "Do not stop abruptly." Generic Symbicort contains a corticosteroid (budesonide) to reduce airway inflammation and a long-acting beta-agonist (formoterol) to relax airway muscles, making it effective for conditions like asthma and COPD.
Some key points to consider when prescribing generic Symbicort include:
- The use of ICS/LABA combinations, such as budesonide/formoterol, as maintenance and reliever therapy 1
- The importance of rinsing the mouth after use to prevent thrush and other local side effects 1
- The need to carefully titrate the dose to the minimum required to maintain control of asthma symptoms 1
- The potential for insurance coverage to vary, so the prescription may include "dispense as written" or "substitution permitted" language depending on the doctor's preference 1
It's also important to note that the working group recommends SMART (Single Maintenance and Reliever Therapy) for steps 3 and 4 in children and adults, which involves using ICS/LABA as both maintenance and reliever therapy 1. However, this should only be done with combination products containing formoterol, as it has a rapid onset of action, and not with products containing salmeterol, which has a more delayed onset of action.
From the Research
Generic Symbicort Prescription
- A generic Symbicort prescription would typically include a combination of budesonide and formoterol, as these are the active ingredients in Symbicort 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
- The prescription may specify a particular dosage, such as budesonide/formoterol 160/9-640/18 microg/day, and a dosing schedule, such as twice-daily or once-daily administration 4, 5.
- The prescription may also indicate the type of inhaler device to be used, such as a dry powder device or a pressurized metered-dose inhaler (pMDI) 2, 5.
Dosage and Administration
- The dosage of generic Symbicort may vary depending on the patient's age, asthma severity, and response to treatment 4, 5.
- Studies have shown that budesonide/formoterol is effective in improving peak expiratory flow (PEF), controlling symptoms, and preventing mild exacerbations in patients with asthma 3, 4, 5.
- Adjustable maintenance dosing with budesonide/formoterol may be associated with a lower overall dosage and improved asthma control compared to fixed dosing 4, 6.
Inhaler Device
- The inhaler device used for generic Symbicort may be a dry powder device, such as the Turbuhaler, or a pMDI 2, 5.
- The device should be easy to use and allow for accurate dosing of the medication 2, 5.
- Studies have shown that budesonide/formoterol administered via a single dry powder device or pMDI is effective and well-tolerated in patients with asthma 3, 4, 5.