Since June, 2007, Symbicort as a metered dose inhaler (MDI), has been available in the United States (US) for long-term maintenance treatment of asthma. On February 27, 2009, however, that all changed when AstraZeneca announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Symbicort for the treatment of COPD, including both emphysema and chronic bronchitis.
Symbicort contains formotorol, a long-acting, beta agonist bronchodilator, and budesonide, a corticosteroid. Combination drugs like Symbicort help by doing two things almost simultaneously - the bronchodilator relaxes and opens up constricted airways and the steroid helps to relieve associated swelling and inflammation of the airways. Both of these actions make it easier for the COPD patient to breathe.
As a new treatment option for COPD patients, the makers of Symbicort boast that the drug delivers lung function improvement and daily symptom control along with a rapid onset of action.
The approved dosage of Symbicort is 160/4.5 mcg, with two inhalations taken twice daily.
Important safety information includes, but is not limited to, the following:
- Symbicort is NOT a rescue inhaler and should not replace fast-acting inhalers to relieve acute COPD symptoms.
- Symbicort should not be used in patients who are experiencing rapidly deteriorating or life-threatening symptoms of COPD.
- When using Symbicort, don't use other long-acting beta agonist bronchodilators.
Read more about the use of Symbicort for COPD.
If you have tried Symbicort, why not post a comment below and let us know how it worked for you.
Photo © Flickr.com, user jemsweb
I am 82 years old. Symbicort improved my asthma condition rapidly, and now I just use it for maintenance. I wonder if it would also help in case I should catch the H1N1 flu epidemic?
If you get any kind of flu, your symptoms of COPD will worsen, so I would imagine that it would help your symptoms. There are recommendeded antivirals for Swine Flu in the following blog link I did about Swine Flu:
http://copd.about.com/b/2009/04/27/swine-flu-and-copd-are-you-at-risk.htm
Thanks for your comments. Be sure to join the forum and let us know how you are doing.
I am 19 and was just diagnosed recently with copd. The doctor prescribed symbicort and I started taking it that day. My lung capacity has increased greatly and my lungs aren’t in as much pain.
Yes, we sent men to the Moon… but at great cost$… so now should we send everyone to the moon who wants to go, is qualified, and might be able to accomplish a mission ?
I make this analogy because WE [in our American society] MUST realize that we are now using a lot of $200 Symbicort inhalers to treat the common cold… and a lot of these patients are NOT experiencing “chronic” symptoms… and this is happening at a time we are suppose to be getting a grip on our healthcare system cost$!
Do YOU REALLY THINK OUR GOVERNMENT IS CAPABLE OF OBJECTIVELY/LOGICALLY ADDRESSING THIS VERY COMMON QUESTION… OR SHOULD IT BE ADDRESSED BETWEEN PATIENTs AND THEIR DOCTORS IN A DIALOGUE THAT IS UP FRONT FULLY INFORMED AS TO THE COST/BENEFIT/RISKS FOR THAT SPECIFIC PATIENT AND WHAT’s GOING ON WITHIN THEIR OWN PHYSIOLOGY?
SUCH DECISIONs ARE BEST MADE ON INDIVIDUAL PATIENT/MD BASIS AND IF RICH PATIENTS WANT TO SUCK UP SUCH DRUGS BECAUSE THEY CAN AFFORD TO, THEY AND THEIR MD SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO GO AHEAD… BUT THE COST$ OF SUCH THERAPY SHOULD ALSO BE “UP FRONT” AND THE PATIENT SHOULD MAKE THE FINAL DECISION BASED UPON KNOWING AND SHARING IN THOSE TRUE COST$ !!
Sam