Symbicort is a corticosteroid medication that is used in the treatment of COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) and asthma. Symbicort contains budesonide and formoterol, which are two substances that improve lung function. Budesonide is a corticosteroid that reduces inflammation and formoterol relaxes the airways to improve breathing. Symbicort can be used for adults and children over 6 years old.

Use Symbicort as directed by your doctor. Typically, your doctor will recommend taking 2 puffs in the morning and 2 at night.
Always follow your doctor’s directions.

• Hold the inhaler in the upright position
• Shake the inhaler for 5 seconds
• Remove the mouthpiece
• Hold the inhaler away from you and release a test spray
• Breathe out and place the inhaler in your mouth
• Press the cartridge down firmly to release the medicine
• Continue to inhale and hold your breath for 10 seconds
• Keep the inhaler upright and remove it from your mouth
• Repeat the process for the second puff
• Put the cover back on
• Rinse your mouth with water and spit it out

Before using Symbicort, tell your doctor if you have ever had:

• A seizure
• Liver disease
• Osteoporosis
• Glaucoma
• Tuberculosis
• Diabetes
• Heart disease
• High blood pressure
• Thyroid disease
• Cataracts
• Glaucoma

It is important to tell your doctor if you are pregnant before beginning Symbicort. The ingredients in Symbicort may harm a fetus and cause complications like low birth weight, premature birth, or high blood pressure that causes medical problems at birth.

Common side effects of Symbicort:

• Throat pain or irritation
• Stomach discomfort
• Back pain
• Headache
• Flu symptoms
• Cold symptoms (runny nose and sneezing)
• Vomiting
• White patches in the mouth

Seek medical help if you experience the following severe side effects:

• Tremors
• Cough with mucus
• Wheezing
• Choking
• Blurred vision or tunnel vision
• Worsened breathing problems
• Low potassium levels
• High blood sugar

When will Symbicort start working?

Your breathing symptoms may start to improve within 15 minutes of inhaling your Symbicort dosage. Full improvement of your symptoms may not occur for 2 weeks.

Can Symbicort be used for asthma attacks?

Symbicort is NOT a rescue inhaler and should not be used during an asthma attack. Symbicort is a long-term inhaler that helps prevent the likelihood of asthma attacks, so you will be prescribed an emergency inhaler along with Symbicort.