Symbicort

What is Symbicort?

Symbicort is an asthma and COPD treatment. It’s available as a Turbohaler or Metered Dose Inhaler (MDI). A Turbohaler automatically administers the chemical when inhaled. An MDI requires the user to press a button to release the chemical.

Symbicort is a combination inhaler that combines a preventer ingredient (a type of steroid called budesonide) and a reliever ingredient (formoterol fumarate).

You’ll take it regularly to reduce your risk of asthma attacks, but you can also take additional doses when you get asthma symptoms. So it can be a good option for people who take both preventer and reliever treatment but as separate inhalers.

How does Symbicort work?

Asthma is a condition where your airways become inflamed. They narrow and swell, and may produce extra mucus. This makes it difficult to breathe and may trigger coughing and shortness of breath.

Lung diseases that block the airflow and make it difficult to breathe can cause COPD, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Shortness of breath, wheezing and chronic cough are COPD symptoms.

Budesonide and formoterol fumarate dihydrate are the active ingredients in Symbicort. Budesonide is a steroid which reduces inflammation in the airways leading to reduced symptoms and fewer asthma attacks.

Formoterol is a long-acting bronchodilator which relaxes the airway muscles and relieves ‘bronchoconstriction’, widening the passage for air in and out of the lungs.

What doses of Symbicort are there?

Symbicort Turbohaler is available in three doses: 100/6, 200/6 and 400/12. Symbicort MDI is available in two doses: 100/3 and 200/6.

The big number refers to the dose of budesonide in micrograms, and the little number to the dose of formoterol fumarate in micrograms.

The difference in these doses is the amount of medicine delivered in one inhalation and the resulting relief provided. The dose you use, and how many times a day you administer it, depends on your overall asthma control and symptoms. A typical dose is 1 or 2 inhalations per day, but sometimes a prescriber might increase this to 4.

How to use Symbicort

You should use Symbicort exactly as advised by our clinician. Use it every day. Always keep your Symbicort Turbohaler or MDI with you, so you can use it when needed.

You may be prescribed Symbicort as your only inhaler or along with a separate reliever inhaler. If you are on a separate reliever inhaler, use that when the asthma symptoms happen. Otherwise, you should use Symbicort only.

If you’re using the Symbicort Turbohaler for asthma, you can either take one inhalation in the morning and one inhalation in the evening, two inhalations in the morning, or two inhalations in the evening.

You can also use it as a reliever inhaler to treat asthma symptoms when they happen.

• Take one inhalation and wait for a few minutes
• Take a second inhalation if you feel that your symptoms haven’t improved.
• Don’t take more than six inhalations at one time.

You shouldn’t regularly take more than eight inhalations in a day and never more than 12 inhalations in 24 hours. If you regularly need to take eight or more inhalations in a day, you should get in touch with our clinician.

If you’re using the Symbicort Turbohaler for COPD, you might be advised to take two inhalations twice a day.

If you’re using the Symbicort MDI for asthma, you might be advised to take two puffs in the morning and two puffs in the evening, or four puffs in the morning, or four puffs in the evening.

You can also use it as a reliever inhaler to treat asthma symptoms when they happen.

• Take two puffs and wait for a few minutes
• If you don’t feel better, take another two puffs
• Don’t take more than 12 puffs at any one time.

You shouldn’t take more than 16 puffs in a day, and no more than 24 puffs in 24 hours. If you regularly need to take 16 or more puffs in a day, you should speak to our clinician.

To get your Turbohaler ready for first time use:

• Unscrew the cover and lift it off.
• Turn the red grip in one direction, as far as it goes. Then turn it back the other way. You should hear a click.
• Repeat this, turning again in both directions.

To use your Turbohaler:

• Hold your Turbohaler away from your mouth. Breathe out gently. Don’t breathe out through the Turbohaler.
• Position the mouthpiece between your teeth and press your lips around it.
• Take a hard, deep breath in through your mouth.
  Take the Turbohaler out of your mouth and gently exhale.
• For a second inhalation, load the Turbohaler and repeat.
• Replace the cover after use.
• Rinse your mouth with water after each dose.

Don’t try to twist or remove the mouthpiece, and you shouldn’t use the Turbohaler if it’s damaged or the mouthpiece comes apart.

Make sure you clean your inhaler once a week. You can do this with a dry tissue. Don’t use any liquids to clean your inhaler.

Your Turbohaler comes with an indicator which tells you how many inhalations are left. When it’s full it may be marked to 30, 60 or 120. The dose indicators have intervals of 10 for the 60 and 120 inhalers and 15 for the 30 inhalers. If you accidentally load the Turbohaler more than once before a dose, you will receive only one inhalation, but the indicator will show loaded doses.

How long does it take Symbicort to work?

Your asthma symptoms should start improving within 1-3 minutes of inhalation. It may take up to two weeks of regular usage to feel the full benefits of Symbicort.

When you buy Symbicort with us, our team will be in touch with you regularly. If you feel you aren’t getting the best out of your dose or treatment, our clinicians can review it for you.

What should I do if I make a mistake when using Symbicort?

If you forget a dose of Symbicort at the right time, don’t worry. Take it when you remember, as long as it is not close to your next dose. If there’s only a small window before your next dose is due, skip the dose and continue as normal.

You should never double your dose to make up for one you missed. If you feel you have taken too much and feel unwell, you should seek medical attention immediately.

Always use the treatment as advised by our clinician.