Symbicort Uses

Symbicort is a prescription inhaler medicine that is used to treat asthma and chronic obstructive lung disease. 

It is not a quick relief inhaler and is not used to treat acute bronchospasm (severe sudden worsening of asthma).

Symbicort may have other uses — your pharmacist or physician can give you further drug information.

Symbicort Mechanism of Action

Symbicort is a combination product that contains budesonide and formoterol. Budesonide is an inhalational corticosteroid that works by reducing inflammation in the lungs. Formoterol is a long-acting beta-agonist (LABA) that opens the airways and makes breathing easier.

Symbicort Doses

Symbicort is available as a metered-dose inhaler that contains 120 doses of 80 mcg/4.5 mcg or 160 mcg/4.5 mg of budesonide & formoterol, respectively. 

The dose of Symbicort depends on the patient’s age and the condition being treated. For treating asthma in patients over 12 years of age, Symbicort dose is 2 inhalations of 80/4.5 or 160/4.5 twice daily. The starting dose depends on the severity of the patient’s asthma. Pediatric patients between 6 and 12 years of age are given Symbicort at a dose of 2 inhalations of the 80/4.5 mcg twice daily. For maintenance treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, Symbicort dose is 2 inhalations of 160/4.5 twice daily.