Asthma and COPD Relief: Is Symbicort Right for You?
Understanding Asthma and COPD: Why Effective Treatment Matters? Asthma and COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) are two breathing problems that cause cough, shortness of breath, and limited airflow. They are likely to be caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. The main reason behind COPD is smoking and its other causes include alpha-antitrypsin deficiency and breathing in harmful airborne particles and chemicals.
For such respiratory illnesses, effective treatment is using an inhaler so that the medicine can directly reach the affected lungs’ airways and work to ease breathing. Corticosteroids and bronchodilators are two common classes of medications that inhalers contain. They are the key inhalation medications for Asthma and COPD patients. Symbicort contains both corticosteroids and bronchodilators and is very effective for providing Asthma and COPD relief.
Further, in the sections of this article, we will learn more about Symbicort for Asthma and COPD.
The Role of Inhalers in Managing Respiratory Conditions
Is Symbicort a rescue Inhaler or a maintenance inhaler?
Symbicort is not intended to be a short-acting rescue inhaler. It is a maintenance inhaler as it is meant for daily use to help control asthma and COPD symptoms rather than providing instant relief from acute asthma attacks or COPD flare-ups.
How does Symbicort work in managing asthma and COPD?
After taking inhalations of Symbicort, the inhaled corticosteroid (Budesonide) and bronchodilator (formoterol) get directly delivered to the patient’s lungs. The corticosteroid components help reduce the inflammation in the inner lining of the airways while the bronchodilator helps widen the airways by relaxing the muscles around them. Together they help manage respiratory conditions- Asthma or COPD very well. The patient can have better-functioning lungs with daily use of Symbicort.
How long it takes for Symbicort to work?
Asthma patients start feeling relieved within 15 minutes of starting taking Symbicort. Full improvement in their symptoms may take 2 weeks or more. COPD patients start having improved lung functioning within 5 minutes of taking Symbicort.
Who Should Use a Symbicort:
What conditions are Symbicort used for?
Symbicort is FDA-approved for use by asthma patients to control and prevent their symptoms and even COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) patients to manage their symptoms like chronic bronchitis and emphysema.
Can Children and Elderly Patients Use Symbicort?
Symbicort is FDA-approved to treat pediatric asthma patients aged above 6 to less than 12 years but not COPD in children. There is no upper age limit for the use of Symbicort by asthma and COPD patients. Still, it’s advised to consult a healthcare provider before starting taking Symbicort to ensure there is no health issue or any existing medication course that could interact with Symbicort ingredients and cause serious side effects.
Can pregnant or breastfeeding women use Symbicort?
There have been insufficient clinical trials of Symbicort so far on pregnant and breastfeeding women. However, animal studies report the possibility of pregnancy loss or birth defects with the use of Symbicort. For breastfeeding women, the effect of Symbicort use on the breastfed child remains unknown. Therefore, it’s better to avoid Symbicort use if planning or currently childbearing or breastfeeding. To confirm the safety profile of Symbicort and to get a suitable treatment plan for asthma or COPD, inform the healthcare provider or prescriber of Symbicort about pregnancy or childbearing beforehand.
What are the contraindications for using Symbicort?
Symbicort should not be used by:
- Patients who have a known allergy to any of the ingredients of Symbicort
- Patients who are suffering from a COPD flare-up or a severe asthma attack (as Symbicort is not a rescue inhaler)
- Patients with uncontrolled heart problems
- Patients suffering from medical conditions like cataracts, glaucoma, diabetes, osteoporosis, thyroid problems, tuberculosis, seizure, electrolyte imbalance, or a weakened immune system.
Symbicort Side Effects:
What are the side effects of taking Symbicort?
The use of Symbicort by asthma and COPD patients is generally completely safe if taken with a doctor’s prescription and as per the doctor’s advice. However, side effects are still a possibility.
The commonly reported side effects are usually mild and temporary, including:
- Throat pain or irritation
- Stomach discomfort or vomiting
- White patches in the mouth or throat
- Flu-like or cold symptoms
- Headache and backache.
This is a non-exhaustive list of side effects. If experiencing any other ill effects of using the medicine or serious side effects, take prompt medical attention from the prescribing doctor.
Does Symbicort Affect Blood Pressure?
A rise in blood pressure is a potential side effect of taking Symbicort, especially in patients having hypertension or heart conditions.
Can Symbicort weaken the immune system?
Symbicort is likely to over time suppress the functioning of the immune system in patients taking the recommended dosage of the medicine. In case of an already weakened immune system, Symbicort usage can lead to a serious risk of infections. The immune system weakening happens because of the corticosteroid component, Budesonide present as an active ingredient in Symbicort inhaler.
Dosage and Frequency:
What is the dosage of Symbicort?
Symbicort is available in two strengths: 80 mcg budesonide/4.5 mcg formoterol and 160 mcg budesonide/4.5 mcg formoterol. Its dosage varies based on the indication for which it is used, the severity of the condition, and the patient’s age.
- The recommended dosage for treating Asthma patients aged 12 years and older is initially two inhalations of 80 mcg/4.5 mcg Symbicort and a maximum of two inhalations of 160 mcg/4.5 mcg Symbicort, twice daily, as per the severity of asthma.
- The maximum recommended dosage for treating Asthma patients aged 6 to less than 12 years is two inhalations of 80 mcg/4.5 mcg Symbicort, twice daily.
- The suggested dosage for maintenance treatment of COPD patients is two inhalations of 160 mcg/4.5 mcg Symbicort twice a day.
How Often Should I Use Symbicort?
There are variable, competitive prices at which Symbicort is available in online pharmacies.
Many factors decide the cost of Symbicort. These include:
- The chosen pharmacy
- The unique treatment plan (the strength of dose and quantity of supply)
- Duration of treatment
- The advantage of a financial assistance/savings card and discount/ reimbursement support associated with Symbicort.
In the United States, the average retail price of a single 80 mcg/4.5 mcg brand-name Symbicort inhaler (typically a 30-day supply) is quoted at around $344.52 while a generic Symbicort is around $244.68. A single 160 mcg/4.5 mcg brand-name Symbicort is priced at around $397.97 while a generic Symbicort of the same dose is around $266.67.
The customers holding no prescription drug insurance will have to pay the amount quoted by the seller depending upon the quantity of their purchase. With insurance aid, the purchaser of Symbicort inhaler would have to pay less from pocket. Having insurance coverage is the best for patients experiencing financial hardships. The buyers of Symbicort inhalers can contact the chosen pharmacy and their insurance providers to figure out whether and how much insurance claim is possible on the purchase of Symbicort. They may have to get prior authorization before their insurance provider claims the cost of Symbicort.
The price of Symbicort with insurance depends upon the terms of the healthcare insurance plan the patient has. The copay cost varies among the patients. If having insurance, contact the healthcare provider or pharmacist to calculate the copay with an existing insurance plan. If not, choose other saving options like patient assistance programs and online service providers for discounts, trial offers, savings cards, or manufacturer coupons.
If want to place an order for an online purchase of Symbicort, select a reputable and valid online drug store. Our online drug store, Offshore Cheap Meds, can be the right choice to get Symbicort at a discounted price!
FAQs
- Is Symbicort a steroid?
Symbicort is a combination inhaler with corticosteroid medication named budesonide as one of its components. This corticosteroid works to reduce lung inflammation.
- What makes Symbicort different from other inhalers?
Symbicort is a maintenance inhaler for asthma and COPD patients having two medications, a corticosteroid and a bronchodilator, combined in one inhaler. Other inhalers slightly differ in their ingredients and usage.
- Can I take Symbicort with other asthma or COPD medications?
Symbicort may not be safe to use along with other asthma or COPD medications containing LABA (long-acting beta component). It is advised to inform the doctor about the current use of medicines if planning to take Symbicort to avoid any unwanted drug interactions.
- How should I buy Symbicort online?
Symbicort can be purchased from Canadian pharmacy online by uploading a doctor’s prescription. One can request this inhaler from a reputable pharmacy like Offshore Cheap Meds. The order is quick, entirely confidential, easy, and has the best competitive price compared to other online drug stores.