Symbicort is a form of turboinhaler which helps treat conditions of acute asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It is a combined corticosteroid (preventer) inhaler and a bronchodilator inhaler. 

Symbicort is known to be very effective to help control breathing immediately. It relaxes the swelling and inflammation inside the lungs, thereby relaxing the muscles in your airways. 

There are two key active ingredients in Symbicort – one is a corticosteroid called budesonide and the other is a bronchodilator called formoterol fumarate. Budesonide helps relieve the muscles of your lungs. When you inhale the medicine, it gets absorbed into the cells and muscles of the lungs and prevents them from releasing the chemicals which are responsible for causing immune and allergic responses that lead to inflammation.

Formoterol is a long-acting beta 2 agonist or bronchodilator. This ingredient stimulates the beta 2 receptors in the lungs, which relax the muscles in the airways and makes it easier to breathe.

Usage of Symbicort has the following benefits:

• It is a preventer inhaler, as well as a rescue-inhaler
• It helps tackle symptoms of asthma and COPD such as breathlessness, wheezing effectively
• It starts showing its effect within 3 minutes and lasts for about 12 hours

The symbicort inhaler is available in three different strengths of available in strengths of 100/6 micrograms, 200/6 micrograms and 400/12 micrograms respectively, per delivered dose. Follow the instructions that you received from our team for your medical condition.

If you are using Symbicort for COPD, the usual recommended dose is 2 inhalations twice a day (which are spaced apart).

If you are using Symbicort as a long-term asthma reliever, the usual recommended dose is 1 or 2 inhalations twice a day.

If you are using Symbicort as a dual inhaler (as a preventive inhaler and a fast-acting reliever inhaler during a breathlessness attack), the usual recommended dose is 2 inhalations a day, which are taken either together as a single dose or as two separate doses.

During an asthma attack, you can take 1 inhalation. Wait a few minutes to see if this relieves the symptoms. If it does not, only then take another inhalation. However, do not take more than 6 inhalations in one go. If you find the need of using 8 or more inhalations a day on a regular basis, consult your team. But be aware that you must not do more than  12 inhalations in a 24 hour period.

To inhale a dose from Symbicort, you must hold the inhaler upright with the red grip at the bottom. Then, unscrew and remove the cover. Turn the red grip as far as you can in one direction, and then all the way back to the other direction until you hear a click. This loads the inhaler with a dose of the medicine.

Breathe out normally and then insert the mouthpiece in between your teeth and close your lips around it. Do not bite the mouthpiece between the teeth. Breathe in through the mouth as deeply as you can while the dose is administered, and hold that breath for about 10 seconds. Afterwards, remove the inhaler and breathe out gently.

After use, you may want to rinse your mouth out or brush your teeth, as leftover residue from the dose might leave you with a strange taste as well as increase the possibility of an oral thrust or hoarseness of the throat.

Use Symbicort with caution in case you suffer from any of the following conditions:

• Severe liver issues
• Diabetes
• Thyrotoxicosis
• Tumour of the adrenal gland
• Heart disease
• Severe Hypertension
• If you have fungal or viral infections in the airways.
• Tuberculosis affecting the lungs.

You must not use Symbicort if you are allergic to any of its ingredients.

Some common side effects of Symbicort include:

• heart palpitations
• sore throat, coughing or hoarseness of voice
• headache
• blurred vision or seeing halos around lights
• low potassium
• high blood sugar
• oral thrush (a fungal infection inside the mouth)
• Shaking and trembling 

Keep in mind the following precautions while using Symbicort:

• If you feel the need to use your reliever medicine more often, (be it your separate reliever inhaler, or Symbicort), or if you find that it has become less effective in relieving wheezing or shortness of breath, consult your team at the earliest as your asthma or COPD condition may be increasing and may need medical attention. Do not change the prescribed dose of the medicine without your doctor’s instructions.
  
  
• Sometimes, there is a possibility that inhalers may cause an unexpected difficulty in breathing or a wheezing episode right straight after using them. In that case, you must not use Symbicort. At that time, you can use a separate reliever inhaler for immediate relief and then consult our team at the earliest for the further course of medication.

You can safely purchase Symbicortonline at MedsNow after a brief online consultation with one of our clinicians. Post consultation, once the prescriber ensures that this is the right medicine for you, your order will be supplied. 

Symbicort does not need any special storage conditions. But make sure that you keep it out of reach of children.

1. Is Symbicort inhaler a steroid?

   Yes, Symbicort contains ingredients that belong to a class of medicines called corticosteroids.

2. Is Symbicort a strong inhaler?

   Symbicort is available in different strengths and metered doses. Our team shall recommend the dosage best suited for you.

3. Can Symbicort be used daily?

   Yes, you can use Symbicort on a daily basis.

4. Can you just stop Symbicort?

   It is advised that before you stop taking Symbicort, you consult your team as suddenly stopping may cause breathing problems to come back.

5. Does Symbicort cause excess mucus?

   Yes, this is a known side-effect of Symbicort. If you do experience excessive mucus, consult your team and seek their advice for a further course of treatment.

6. When is Symbicort empty?

   When the dose counter is completely filled with red and reads 0, it signifies that your Symbicort inhaler is empty.

7. Is Symbicort an anti-inflammatory?

   Yes, Symbicort is an anti-inflammatory medicine that works by relaxing the airways and muscles inside the lungs.

8. How do I know if my Symbicort is working?

   Your asthma or COPD symptoms will start showing a sign of improvement within 15 minutes of taking the dose. However, full improvement can take longer than 2 weeks.

9. Can you get addicted to Symbicort?

   Yes, this drug can prove to be addictive for some patients.