How many puffs in symbicort

The following information describes dosages that are commonly used or recommended. However, be sure to take the dosage your doctor prescribes for you.

Your doctor will determine the best dosage to fit your needs. Symbicort comes as a metered-dose inhaler , which dispenses the drug in a spray that you inhale. The inhaler releases the medication in premeasured puffs. Symbicort is available in the following strengths:.

The typical dosage of Symbicort for adults with asthma is two inhalations puffs twice a day. The strength that your doctor recommends will depend on your asthma symptoms. Children ages 12 years and older with asthma will take Symbicort as two puffs twice a day.

A medication timer may be useful, too. Symbicort is meant to be used as a long-term treatment. Symbicort can cause mild or serious side effects. The following lists contain some of the key side effects that may occur while taking Symbicort. Side effects might differ slightly between people with asthma and people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder COPD. For more information on the possible side effects of Symbicort, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can give you tips on how to deal with any side effects that may be bothersome.

Most of these side effects may go away within a few days or a couple of weeks. Call your doctor right away if you have serious side effects. Side effects of Symbicort are similar in both adults and children. You may wonder how often certain side effects occur with this drug.

As with most drugs, some people can have an allergic reaction after taking Symbicort. A more severe allergic reaction is rare but possible. Symptoms of a severe allergic reaction can include:.

Call your doctor right away if you have a severe allergic reaction to Symbicort. However, a class of medications known as corticosteroids can cause weight gain. And one of the ingredients in Symbicort is a corticosteroid called budesonide. They can review your diet and exercise routine, as well as your medications. Glaucoma, increased eye pressure, and cataracts have been reported after long-term use of inhaled corticosteroids.

And Symbicort contains an inhaled corticosteroid called budesonide. During your Symbicort treatment, your doctor will monitor your vision closely, especially if you have a history of certain eye conditions. And if you have blurred vision, changes in your sight, or pain in your eyes, tell your doctor right away. A sore throat may occur with Symbicort use. The drug can cause laryngitis inflammation of the voice box , which can cause discomfort or pain. Other possible side effects of Symbicort can also make your throat sore.

These include symptoms of the common cold, such as a runny or stuffy nose, or cough. And tell your doctor if you have a history of blood pressure conditions or heart conditions before taking the drug. Other drugs are available that can treat asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder COPD.

Some may be a better fit for you than others. They can tell you about other medications that may work well for you. Note: Some of the drugs listed here are used off-label to treat these specific conditions.

Symbicort, which includes a corticosteroid and a long-acting beta2-agonist, is considered a maintenance medication. COPD treatment usually includes a combination of maintenance medications and rescue medications.

You may wonder how Symbicort compares with other medications that are prescribed for similar uses. Here we look at how Symbicort and Breo are alike and different. Both Symbicort and Breo contain a combination of two active ingredients, an inhaled corticosteroid and long-acting beta2-agonist. Symbicort contains budesonide and formoterol. Breo contains fluticasone and vilanterol. Breo comes as a dry powder inhaler, which dispenses the drug as a fine powder that you inhale.

Symbicort and Breo contain drugs from the same medication classes. Therefore, these medications can cause some very similar side effects. Below are examples of these side effects. These lists contain examples of more mild side effects that can occur with Symbicort, with Breo, or with both drugs when taken individually. This list contains examples of serious side effects that can occur with both Symbicort and Breo when taken individually :.

The use of Symbicort and Breo in treating asthma has been directly compared in clinical studies of people with asthma. In one clinical study , people with asthma that was controlled and stable tried Symbicort for 8 weeks and Breo for 8 weeks. The study looked at changes in forced expiratory volume in 1 second FEV1. FEV1 is the amount of air that you can force out of your lungs in 1 second.

Based on results from an Asthma Control Test questionnaire, Symbicort and Breo were similarly effective in easing asthma symptoms. Symbicort and Breo are both brand-name drugs. There are currently no generic forms of either drug combination. Brand-name medications usually cost more than generics. According to estimates on GoodRx.

Like Breo above , the drug Dulera has uses similar to those of Symbicort. Both Symbicort and Dulera contain a combination of two active ingredients, an inhaled corticosteroid and long-acting beta2-agonist. Dulera contains mometasone and formoterol. Dulera is FDA-approved for the treatment of asthma in adults as well as children ages 5 years and older.

Both Symbicort and Dulera come as a metered-dose inhaler , which dispenses the drug in a spray that you inhale. Symbicort and Dulera contain drugs from the same medication classes. Therefore, these medications can cause some similar side effects. These lists contain examples of more mild side effects that can occur with Symbicort, with Dulera, or with both drugs when taken individually.

These lists contain examples of serious side effects that can occur with Symbicort, with Dulera, or with both drugs when taken individually.

Symbicort and Dulera are both brand-name drugs. There are currently no generic forms of either drug. Different interactions can cause different effects. For instance, some interactions can interfere with how well a drug works. Other interactions can increase the number of side effects or make them more severe. Below is a list of medications that can interact with Symbicort. Before taking Symbicort, talk with your doctor and pharmacist.

Tell them about all prescription, over-the-counter, and other drugs you take. Also tell them about any vitamins, herbs, and supplements you use. Sharing this information can help you avoid potential interactions. If you have questions about drug interactions that may affect you, ask your doctor or pharmacist. An enzyme is a protein that aids chemical changes in your body. This effect can interfere with how your body breaks down budesonide, which is an active ingredient in Symbicort.

So taking a CYP3A4 inhibitor with Symbicort may increase the level of budesonide in your body and lead to side effects. They may choose a different drug to treat your condition. Using certain antidepressants within 2 weeks of taking Symbicort may increase your risk for heart-related side effects. They can suggest a different antidepressant for you. Taking a beta-blocker with Symbicort may reduce the effectiveness of Symbicort to treat your symptoms. If you need to take a beta-blocker, your doctor may recommend a drug other than Symbicort for you.

Taking Symbicort may lower your potassium level or cause changes to your heart rhythm. Available data from controlled clinical trials also suggest that use of LABA as monotherapy increases the risk of asthma-related hospitalization in pediatric and adolescent patients.

These findings are considered a class effect of LABA. Patients should rinse the mouth after inhalation of SYMBICORT Lower respiratory tract infections, including pneumonia, have been reported following the administration of ICS Due to possible immunosuppression, potential worsening of infections could occur.

A more serious or even fatal course of chickenpox or measles can occur in susceptible patients It is possible that systemic corticosteroid effects such as hypercorticism and adrenal suppression may occur, particularly at higher doses. Shake your inhaler again for 5 seconds and repeat steps 2 to 4. The actuation counter on top of the inhaler helps to monitor the amount of medication remaining and helps you know when to refill your prescription. The arrow points to the number of inhalations, or puffs remaining.

Get the most from your medication by taking it exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Do not try to take the inhaler apart. This link will take you to a site maintained by another party that is solely responsible for its contents. AstraZeneca provides this link as a service to Web site visitors. AstraZeneca is not responsible for the Privacy Policy of any third party Web sites.

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We encourage you to read the policy of each website you visit. You may report side effects related to AstraZeneca products by clicking here. Do not take more than 4 puffs per day. Do not use more than twice a day. Hold it in the upright position as shown Shake your inhaler well for 5 seconds Remove the mouthpiece cover by squeezing gently at both sides, then pulling out Hold the inhaler facing away from you, and release a test spray Shake it again for 5 seconds and release a second test spray.

Reading the actuation counter.