Ordering Symbicort Inhalation Aerosol(Budesonide/Formoterol Fumarate Dihydrate MDI)
At CanadianPharmacyWorld, we provide access to this medication for patients with a valid prescription from their healthcare provider. As a licensed pharmacy, we are committed to providing significant savings while ensuring our customers receive safe, affordable medications delivered directly to their homes. To learn more about our dedication to pharmacy standards, please visit our
About Us page.
Available Brands and Generic Variants
Patients may see different brand names for this medication depending on the manufacturer and country of origin. While the active ingredient (Budesonide/Formoterol Fumarate Dihydrate) remains the same.
The brand Symbicort Inhalation Aerosol, produced in New Zealand, is called Vannair and is manufactured by AstraZeneca.
Generic versions are produced by various international laboratories under different trade names:
• India: Foracort Inhaler (Cipla)
Dosage Strengths and Available Forms
The Symbicort Inhalation Aerosol comes in strengths of 80 mcg/4.5 mcg/120 doses and 160 mcg/4.5 mcg/120 doses.
Generic versions of Budesonide/Formoterol may be available. While international generic brands like Foracort are available in various strengths, patients must ensure that the delivery method (Aerosol MDI vs. Turbohaler DPI) and the specific dosage exactly match what their healthcare provider prescribed.
Usage and Indications
Symbicort pairs an inhaled corticosteroid, budesonide, with a long-acting beta-agonist (LABA), formoterol. Budesonide works by reducing inflammation and swelling in the lungs, helping prevent asthma and COPD symptoms before they occur. Meanwhile, formoterol helps keep the muscles around your airways relaxed, preventing tightening that can cause wheezing and shortness of breath. This dual-action approach aims to keep your airways open and make breathing easier daily.
This medication helps control asthma symptoms and prevent issues such as wheezing in adults and children aged 6 and older. It is typically prescribed when asthma is not adequately managed with a low-to-medium dose of a standard inhaled corticosteroid. Because Symbicort is a maintenance medication, it is meant for daily use and will not act quickly enough to treat sudden, severe symptoms. Therefore, you should always have a separate rescue inhaler, such as albuterol, available for emergencies or sudden attacks.
It is also prescribed for the long-term treatment of COPD, a chronic lung disease that includes chronic bronchitis, emphysema, or both. Regular use helps improve overall lung function and decrease the frequency of flare-ups or exacerbations in adults. To achieve the best results, use this medication exactly as your doctor prescribes. After each dose (usually 2 puffs), it is important to rinse your mouth with water and spit it out. Do not swallow the water, as this simple step significantly reduces the risk of developing a fungal infection called thrush in the mouth and throat.
Possible Side Effects and Adverse Reactions
Common Side Effects - If any of the following side effects persist or cause you concern, contact your healthcare provider for guidance:
• Back pain
• Headache
• Nasal congestion (stuffy nose)
• Nasopharyngitis (cold symptoms)
• Stomach discomfort or upset
• Throat irritation or pain
• Upper respiratory tract infection
• Vomiting
Other Potential Side Effects (less common) - The following list includes side effects that are reported less frequently by individuals:
• Anxiety or nervousness
• Dizziness
• Fatigue or malaise
• Flu symptoms
• Muscle cramps or spasms
• Palpitations (fast or irregular heartbeat)
• Sinusitis (sinus inflammation)
• Tremor (shakiness)
Serious Side Effects – Although serious reactions are rare, they require immediate medical attention. Stop using medication and call your doctor or emergency services immediately if any of the following occur:
• Adrenal Insufficiency: Extreme tiredness, muscle weakness, or low blood pressure.
• Cardiovascular Issues: Significantly increased heart rate, chest pain, or dangerously high blood pressure.
• Eye Problems: New or worsening vision changes, including symptoms of glaucoma or cataracts.
• Hyperglycemia: High blood sugar; symptoms include increased thirst or frequent urination.
• Hypokalemia: Low potassium levels; symptoms include heart rhythm disturbances or muscle weakness.
• Immune System Suppression: Increased vulnerability to infections (e.g., chickenpox or measles).
• Osteoporosis: Long-term use may lead to reduced bone mineral density.
• Paradoxical Bronchospasm: Sudden, unexpected worsening of shortness of breath or wheezing immediately after use.
• Pneumonia (COPD Patients): Increased risk of lung infections; symptoms include fever, chills, and changes in mucus.
• Severe Allergic Reaction: Hives, swelling of the face or throat, and difficulty breathing.
• Slowed Growth: Potential for reduced growth rate in children and adolescents.
• Thrush (Candidiasis): White or creamy patches in the mouth or throat that may be painful.
Absolute Contraindications
Before starting treatment, it is important to identify certain medical conditions that preclude its use. Do not take Symbicort Inhalation Aerosol if the following conditions exist:
• Acute Bronchospasm: severe asthma attack or a COPD flare-up that requires a fast-acting rescue medication for immediate relief.
• Hypersensitivity: known allergy or hypersensitivity to budesonide, formoterol, or any of the inactive ingredients contained in the inhaler.
• Status Asthmaticus: an acute, intense episode of asthma that requires emergency medical intervention in a hospital setting.
Medical Conditions Requiring Consultation
The following conditions warrant a detailed discussion with a healthcare provider before starting this medication, as the medication may need to be adjusted or avoided to ensure patient safety:
• Bone Health: History of reduced bone mineral density or osteoporosis, as long-term use of inhaled corticosteroids can weaken bones.
• Cardiovascular Disorders; Heart problems, including high blood pressure, irregular heart rhythms (arrhythmias), or coronary insufficiency.
• Diabetes: Pre-diabetes or diabetes, as inhaled corticosteroids and beta-agonists can sometimes cause increases in blood sugar or HbA1c levels.
• Endocrine Problems: Thyroid disorders (specifically hyperthyroidism) or adrenal gland issues (adrenocortical insufficiency).
• Eye Disorders: History of cataracts, glaucoma, or increased intraocular pressure that requires regular monitoring during long-term steroid therapy.
• Immune System Status: Current fungal, bacterial, viral, or parasitic infections, or a history of tuberculosis; also, recent exposure to communicable diseases such as measles or chickenpox.
• Liver Disease: Severe hepatic impairment can result in increased systemic levels of budesonide because the medication is cleared more slowly by the liver.
• Seizure Disorders: History of epilepsy or other convulsive conditions, as beta-agonists may sometimes increase the risk of seizures.
Drug Interactions
Understanding how Symbicort Inhalation Aerosol interacts with other substances is essential for safe and effective treatment. The following medications may require close monitoring or dosage adjustments when taken concurrently:
• Beta-Blockers (Atenolol, Metoprolol, Propranolol): These medications can block the effects of formoterol and may cause severe narrowing of the airways (bronchospasm) in patients with asthma or COPD. If a beta-blocker is necessary, cardioselective options should be used with extreme caution. n
• MAO Inhibitors and Tricyclic Antidepressants (Isocarboxazid, Amitriptyline): Using this medication with these antidepressants can increase the risk of cardiovascular side effects, such as a dangerously fast heart rate or high blood pressure. This should be administered with extreme caution in patients receiving monoamine oxidase inhibitors or tricyclic antidepressants, or within 2 weeks of discontinuation of these agents, because they may potentiate formoterol's effects on the vascular system.
• Strong CYP3A4 Inhibitors (Ketoconazole, Ritonavir, Clarithromycin): These substances can significantly raise budesonide levels in your blood. This increases the risk of systemic corticosteroid side effects, such as adrenal suppression or Cushing’s syndrome.
• Ventricular arrhythmia: Medications (such as amiodarone and sotalol) can be affected by formoterol, which may prolong the QT interval (a measurement of heart rhythm). Using it together with other drugs that influence heart rhythm increases the risk of serious, life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias.
Other Notable Interactions• Diuretics (Furosemide, Hydrochlorothiazide) and non-potassium-sparing diuretics may increase the risk of low potassium (hypokalemia) when taken with formoterol in Symbicort. This can cause muscle weakness or heart rhythm problems.
• Other LABA Medications: (Salmeterol, Vilanterol). It should not be used with other long-acting beta-agonists. Combining these medications raises the risk of overdose, which can lead to severe cardiovascular strain.
• Xanthine Derivatives: (Theophylline) Using theophylline with this medication may increase the risk of hypokalemia and lead to more side effects like tremors, nervousness, or a rapid heartbeat.
Storage and Safety Information
Store Symbicort at room temperature between 20°C and 25 °C. Store it with the mouthpiece down. Keep it and all medicines out of children's reach.
Blog Post
Asthma vs COPD: 5 Facts You Need to Know About Your InhalersThe content on this page has been supplied to canadianpharmacyworld.com by an independent third party contracted to provide information for our website. Canadianpharmacyworld.com relies on these third parties to create and maintain this information and cannot guarantee the accuracy or reliability of the information that has been provided to us.
The drug information provided here is only a summary and does not contain all the list of possible side effects and drug interactions regarding this medication. Be sure to contact your doctor or pharmacist if you have any specific question or concern. If you require any advice or information about the drugs on this page, a medical condition or treatment advice, you should always speak to a healthcare professional.
Please note that not all products, including any referenced in this page, are shipped by our affiliated Canadian Pharmacy. We are affiliated with other dispensaries that ship product to our customers from the following jurisdictions: Canada, Singapore, New Zealand, Turkey, Mauritius, India, and United Kingdom. The items in your order maybe shipped from any of the above jurisdictions. The products are sourced from various countries as well as those listed above. Rest assured, we only affiliate with our authorized dispensaries that procure product through reliable sources.