For the first time, adults aged 18 years and older, suffering from asthma are able to control and relieve their symptoms using a single inhaler. Symbicort, (budesonide/formoterol) Maintenance And Reliever Therapy.

Symbicort SMART studies demonstrated that patients using this new approach took no extra inhaled steroids and needed less oral steroids compared to other traditional asthma treatment approaches.(complete resources click here)

Symbicort® (budesonide/formoterol) is a combination formulation containing Pulmicort® (budesonide), an anti-inflammatory corticosteroid, and Oxis® (formoterol), a rapid-acting and long-lasting bronchodilator.

Symbicort is delivered as an inhalation powder via a single inhaler, the Symbicort Turbuhaler®, in one of two doses: 80/4.5 mcg/inhalation or 160/4.5 mcg/inhalation.

Asthma

Symbicort is indicated in the regular treatment of asthma, where use of a combination (inhaled corticosteroid and long-acting beta2-agonist) is appropriate:

– patients not adequately controlled with inhaled corticosteroids and `as needed’ inhaled short-acting beta2-agonists
or

– patients already adequately controlled on both inhaled corticosteroids and long-acting beta2-agonists

COPD

Symptomatic treatment of patients with severe COPD (FEV1 <50% predicted normal) and a history of repeated exacerbations, who have significant symptoms despite regular therapy with long-acting bronchodilators

Mode of Action

Symbicort contains formoterol and budesonide, which have different modes of action and show additive effects in terms of reduction of asthma exacerbations.  The specific properties of budesonide and formoterol allow the combination to be used both as maintenance and reliever therapy, or as maintenance treatment of asthma.

Budesonide
Budesonide is a glucocorticosteroid which when inhaled has a dose-dependent anti-inflammatory action in the airways, resulting in reduced symptoms and fewer asthma exacerbations. Inhaled budesonide has less severe adverse effects than systemic corticosteroids. The exact mechanism responsible for the anti-inflammatory effect of glucocorticosteroids is unknown.

Formoterol
Formoterol is a selective beta2-adrenergic agonist that when inhaled results in rapid and long-acting relaxation of bronchial smooth muscle in patients with reversible airways obstruction. The bronchodilating effect is dose-dependent, with an onset of effect within 1-3 minutes. The duration of effect is at least 12 hours after a single dose.

Please consult local Prescribing Information for Symbicort before use.