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Symbicort Turbohaler

Authored by

Dr Blen Tesfu

20 August 2024

What is Symbicort Turbohaler?

Symbicort Turbohaler is an inhaler that can be used to relieve asthma symptoms, including two active ingredients: budesonide and formoterol.

Description

Symbicort Turbohaler for Asthma & Breathing Problems

Asthma is a common lung condition that can cause a range of breathing difficulties that happen randomly or after exposure to a trigger. Triggers may include common allergies to pollen or animal dander, infections, environmental changes or from exercise.

The Symbicort Turbohaler is a medication that treats asthma and helps to reduce breathing difficulties including wheezing, breathlessness, a tight feeling in the chest and coughing. This inhaler can be used daily to prevent symptoms, or as a reliever inhaler to treat symptoms if they suddenly arise.

What is a Symbicort Turbohaler and how does it work?

The Symbicort Turbohaler contains two medicines, a corticosteroid called budesonide and a bronchodilator called formoterol fumarate dihydrate. These active ingredients work together to reduce and prevent swelling and inflammation in the lungs. They also relax the airway muscles to aid breathing.

A Turbohaler is a breath-activated device that releases a dry-powder form of medication when you inhale on the mouthpiece. This medicine does not have propellant.

This medication should not be used by people with severe asthma.

Is a Symbicort Turbohaler right for me?

If you are diagnosed with asthma, COPD or other breathing condition, you may be prescribed a Symbicort Turbohaler by a doctor or healthcare professional. However, it may not be suitable for you if you have the following:

If you are allergic to budesonide, formoterol or any other ingredients in this medicine
If you are diabetic
If you have a lung infection
If you have a history or are taking medication for heart or liver problems
If you have high blood pressure
If you have problems with your adrenal or thyroid gland
If you have low potassium in your blood
If you are taking steroid medication or medication for an infection
If you are taking any other asthma medication, such as other bronchodilators, xanthine medicines
If you are taking antidepressants or medicine for HIV infections, Parkinson's disease or thyroid concerns.

Side Effects

All medications can cause potential side effects, below we have listed some potential side effects of the Symbicort Turbohaler. However, these do not always occur and are mostly mild in nature. But if you experience any prolonged or worrying side effects of the Symbicort Turbohaler, please discontinue the medication immediately and consult your doctor.

Common side effects include:

Palpitations, trembling or shaking
Thrush in the mouth
Mild sore throat
Coughing
Hoarse voice
Headache

How to use a Symbicort Turbohaler?

Always use a Symbicort Turbohaler exactly as prescribed by your doctor or advised by the pharmacist. The recommended starting dose for adults is one inhalation (100/6) to relieve asthma, however, in presence of other factors, this may be increased or decreased accordingly as per the prescriber's clinical judgement.

For adults with asthma:

If you are using Symbicort Turbohaler and a separate reliever - the usual dose is one or two inhalations, twice a day. Your doctor may increase this to 4 inhalations, twice a day.
If you are using Symbicort Turbohaler as your only asthma inhaler - two inhalations a day
The maximum dose is 12 inhalations in a 24-hour period

Instructions:

Follow the guidelines for preparing your new Turbohaler
Unscrew the cover and hold your Turbohaler upright with the red grip at the bottom.
Load your Turbohaler with a dose of medicine by turning the red grip as far as it will go in one direction then turn it as far as it will go in the other direction. You should hear a click sound.
Start to breathe as slowly as possible just before using your inhaler
Hold it away from your mouth and breathe out gently. Do not breathe out through the Turbohaler.
Place the mouthpiece in your mouth between your teeth and close your lips, do not bite it
Breathe in as deeply and as hard as you can through your mouth
Remove the Turbohaler from your mouth
Rinse your mouth out with water after your daily morning and/or evening doses and spit it out.
If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, consult your doctor before using this medicine

Do not use your inhaler more often than the doctor told you to.

Warnings and Precautions

The Symbicort Turbohaler may not be safe if taken with other medication or recreational drugs. Please inform the prescriber if you are taking any of the listed medications.

DO NOT use the Symbicort Turbohaler:

If you are allergic to budesonide, formoterol or any other ingredients in this medicine
If you are diabetic
If you have a lung infection
If you have a history or are taking medication for heart or liver problems
If you have high blood pressure
If you have problems with your adrenal or thyroid gland
If you have low potassium in your blood
If you are taking steroid medication or medication for an infection
If you are taking any other asthma medication, such as other bronchodilators, xanthine medicines
If you are taking antidepressants or medicine for HIV infections, Parkinson's disease or thyroid concerns.

The above-listed warnings are not exhaustive, please consult a doctor, pharmacist or nurse if you have further questions on the use of this medication or potential interactions with other medicines.