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| Strength | Quantity | Price | Stock |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100/6 | 1 inhaler | £56.25 |  |
| 200/6 | 1 inhaler | £59.25 | |
| 400/12 | 1 inhaler | £59.25 | |
Reviewed by Dr Samantha Miller MB ChB
(2017, University of Glasgow)
GMC number: 7561464
Information last reviewed 25/08/2021
Symbicort is a type of preventer inhaler used to treat asthma in adults and children over the age of six.
Symbicort contains two medications, Budesonide and Formoterol. Budesonide works by reducing lung inflammation while formoterol works by relaxing and widening the airways.
Symbicort needs to be used regularly to keep your symptoms at bay and prevent an asthma attack from occurring. The medicine works to control your asthma and ease inflammation which is why it's essential to keep taking it, even if you no longer have symptoms. This means that it is working.
| Dose |
1 or 2 inhalations, twice a day with a separate reliever inhaler, or 2 inhalations, morning and evening/2 inhalations in the morning/2 inhalations in the evening if using on its own |
| Type of Medicine | Combination inhaler with corticosteroid and long-acting bronchodilator (LABA) |
| Mechanism |
Budesonide acts as a bronchodilator, relaxing the bronchioles and reducing swelling by triggering corticosteroid receptors. Formoterol activates beta-2 receptors, preventing the airways from tightening and allowing air to pass more freely. |
| Available Size |
1 inhaler |
| Available Strengths |
100/6, 200/6, 400/12 (budesonide/formoterol fumarate dihydrate) |
| Active Ingredient |
Budesonide, formoterol fumarate dihydrate |
| Price |
From £56.25 per inhaler |
| Side Effects |
Can include thrush in the mouth and throat, palpitations, sore throat, headache, nausea, distrubed sleep, feeling dizzy |
The active ingredients contained in Symbicort are Budesonide and Formoterol fumarate dihydrate.
The inactive ingredient is lactose.
The standard dose of Symbicort is 1–2 puffs twice a day. Your doctor may increase this to a maximum of 8–12 puffs per day, but you should not increase the dose yourself. Your prescribed dose will depend on the severity of your symptoms. If you find that your prescribed dose does not sufficiently control your symptoms, you should speak to your doctor, who may be able to adjust your dose or offer you a different medication.
Before taking Symbicort, read the instructions thoroughly and always follows your doctor’s instructions about how and when to take your inhaler.
The first time you use your inhaler, you will need to prime this. Do this by unscrewing the cap and holding the inhaler upright. Next, turn the red grip around to the other side as far as you can until it clicks and then turn it back the other way.
When you're ready, hold the inhaler so that the base is at the bottom. Each time you use it, you'll need to load it with a dose. To do this, turn the red base as far as it will go in one direction and then again in the opposite direction. Next, breathe out slowly before placing the mouthpiece between your lips. Inhale as deeply as you can before removing the inhaler from your mouth and exhaling slowly.
If you forget a dose of Symbicort, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. However, if it's nearly time for your next dose (i.e. within a few hours), wait until then, don't double up the dose.
If you've taken more Symbicort than you were supposed to, it’s unlikely to cause you harm; however, you may be more likely to experience side effects like oral thrush. Therefore, you should inform your doctor if you think you have taken too much.
Common (may affect up to 1 in 10 people):
Uncommon (may affect up to 1 in 100 people):
Rare (may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people):
Very rare (may affect up to 1 in 10,000 people):
Do not use Symbicort if you are allergic to any of the ingredients.
Extra care should be taken if you have:
Always tell your doctor if you are taking any other medications to ensure that they won't interfere with each other. In particular, the following drugs may interact with Symbicort:
Always rinse out your mouth after each time you use your inhaler. This will help to avoid oral thrush. Brushing your teeth or using mouthwash can help get rid of an unpleasant taste. Making sure you use your inhaler correctly is the best way to avoid side effects like a sore throat, unpleasant taste or oral thrush.
Seretide and Symbicort are both combination inhalers that work to prevent asthma attacks and manage symptoms. These inhalers work by releasing corticosteroids to reduce inflammation. The bronchodilator medication in these inhalers relaxes the blood vessels and allow them to widen.
Symbicort differs from other asthma inhalers as it is a combined inhaler containing two different medicines. It may be prescribed for people with more severe asthma or if their symptoms worsen over time. The main two types of asthma inhalers are reliever or preventer inhalers. Reliever inhalers are prescribed to everyone diagnosed with asthma to relieve symptoms as they occur. If you need to use your reliever inhaler more than twice a week, then you'll be prescribed a preventer inhaler to use every day to manage your asthma. Symbicort is a stronger type of preventer inhaler.
Symbicort cannot be used to treat an asthma attack. Only your reliever inhaler can be used to treat an asthma attack. Symbicort is a preventer inhaler which means it only works at preventing symptoms and asthma attacks.
Symbicort may leave an unpleasant taste in your mouth. This is usually caused by inhaling the medicine incorrectly so that it hits the back of the throat instead of going straight down into the lungs.
Symbicort does not usually cause problems for people who are lactose intolerant. However, you should still mention this to the prescribing doctor. Symbicort contains only a small amount of lactose, which is not usually enough to initiate a reaction.
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