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This website is intended for UK Healthcare Professionals only. Other UK residents please visit astrazeneca.co.uk
Request a Symbicort representative via our Contact Us page to assist you further.
Symbicort is a fixed-dose combination of budesonide and formoterol.1-2
The bronchodilating effect of formoterol 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.1-2
Symbicort 100/6 can be used to relieve symptoms in patients prescribed as a Maintenance and Reliever therapy (MART) age 6 years and over.
Symbicort 200/6 can be used to relieve symptoms in patients prescribed as a MART or as needed Anti-Inflammatory Reliever aged 12 years and over.
For patients prescribed Symbicort Turbohaler 100/6, 200/6 and 400/12 as a Maintenance only therapy, Patients should be advised to have their separate rapid-acting bronchodilator available for rescue use at all times.
See below for the treatment regimen and age related dosing of each strength, or click here to visit the dosing page.
Dosage should be reassessed for patients shortly turning 12, in order to follow dosing regimen of adults and adolescents (12 years and older).1
If a patient finds the treatment less effective or experiences progressive deterioration of symptoms despite taking Symbicort as needed the patient should seek medical attention as soon as possible.
For patients taking Symbicort as reliever, preventative use of Symbicort for allergen-or exercise-induced bronchoconstriction should be discussed between physician and patient; the recommended use should take into consideration the frequency of need. In case of frequent need of bronchodilation without corresponding need for an increased dose of inhaled corticosteroids, an alternative reliever should be used.2
Watch the video below to hear Respiratory Nurse Specialist at Hull University Teaching Hospitals Trust, explain how to use Symbicort Turbohaler 200/6 during an asthma attack or in an emergency.
Symbicort 200/6 can be prescribed in patients aged 12+ with mild asthma as a Reliever therapy. It can also be presribed as a Maintenance and Reliever therapy in patients aged 12+.
Yes, dry powder inhalers (DPI) have been shown in clinical trials to be as effective when asthma symptoms increase and in acute attacks. The administration of β2-agonist bronchodilators via DPI are as effective as via a pressurised metered-dose inhaler (pMDI) with or without a spacer, or nebulisation.3
Symbicort Turbohaler 200/6 is indicated as reliever therapy for adults and adolescents ≥12 years with mild asthma and was the first ICS/LABA inhaler licensed as a reliever in the UK.2,10
Mild asthma patients take Symbicort as needed in response to symptoms. This will provide relief by the rapid acting bronchodilation and also reduce inflammation. Patients should be advised to always have this inhaler available for rescue use.2
For patients taking Symbicort as reliever, preventative use of Symbicort for allergen-or exercise-induced bronchoconstriction should be discussed between physician and patient; the recommended use should take into consideration the frequency of need. In case of frequent need of bronchodilation without corresponding need for an increased dose of inhaled corticosteroids, an alternative reliever should be used.2
For further information on Symbicort Turbohaler 200/6 dosage and method of administration, please visit Symbicort Dosing Guide and Safety Profile or see the SmPC.2
Symbicort Turbohaler 100/6 is indicated for adults, adoloscents and children 6 years and older and Symbicort Turbohaler 200/6 is indicated for adults and adolescents 12 years and older for Maintenance And Reliever Therapy (MART).1,2
Patients take a daily maintenance dose of Symbicort and in addition take Symbicort as needed in response to symptoms. Patients should be advised to always have Symbicort available for rescue use.1,2
Symbicort MART should especially be considered for patients with:
Close monitoring for dose-related adverse effects is needed in patients who frequently take high numbers of Symbicort as-needed inhalations.1,2
Regimen for adults and adolescents (12 years and older) who have been prescribed Symbicort Turbohaler 100/6 or 200/6 MART:
For further information on maximum dosage and method of administration for Symbicort Turbohaler 100/6 and/or 200/6, please visit Symbicort Dosing Guide and Safety Profile or see the respective SmPCs.1,2
Regimen for children (6-11 years) who have been prescribed Symbicort Turbohaler 100/6 MART:
A total daily dose of more than 4 inhalations is not normally needed; however, a total daily dose of up to 8 inhalations could be used for a limited period. Patients using more than 4 inhalations daily should be strongly recommended to seek medical advice. They should be reassessed and their maintenance therapy should be reconsidered.1
If necessary, dosage should be reassessed for patients who will shortly turn 12 years or have recently turned 12 years to follow dosage regimen of adults and adolescents (12 years and older).
Children under 6 years: There are limited efficacy and safety data of Symbicort maintenance and reliever therapy in children younger than 6 years.
Yes, Symbicort contains an inhaled corticosteroid used as a long-term maintenance medicine for asthma.
Symbicort contains two medicines:
Listen to Helena Cummings, Respiratory Nurse Specialist at Hull University Teaching Hospitals Trust, address the question on whether patients will be exposed to too much inhaled corticosteroid when using an anti-inflammatory reliever regime.
Yes. Symbicort Turbohaler 200/6 is indicated as an anti-inflammatory reliever (AIR) for adults and adolescents ≥12 years with mild asthma.2
If your patient is highly symptomatic or there are severe exacerbations, offer low-dose Maintenance and Reliever Therapy (MART).12 Offer Symbicort Turbohaler 100/6 or 200/6 as low-dose MART where clinically appropriate.
For further information on maximum dosage and method of administration for Symbicort Turbohaler 200/6 visit Symbicort Dosing Guide and Safety Profile or see the SmPC.2
For more information visit Symbicort Reliever Therapy (Turbohaler 200/6) and Asthma Educational and Patient Resources.
Symbicort Reliever Therapy (Turbohaler 200/6) is licensed for use in Adults and adolescents ages 12 years and over.
For more information visit Symbicort Reliever Therapy (Turbohaler 200/6) and Asthma Educational and Patient Resources.
Symbicort Turbohaler 200/6 is licensed for use as a reliever in mild asthma patients.2,10
Symbicort Turbohaler 200/6 can be used as MART in adults and adolescents aged 12 years and older.2
Symbicort Turbohaler 100/6 can be used as MART in adults adolescents and children aged 6 years and older.1
For more information visit Symbicort Dosing Guide and Safety Profile and MART clinical evidence page (ages 12 and over).
The dose indicator at the top of the inhaler helps patients monitor the number of doses remaining and know when they need to request a new prescription. Every tenth dose is displayed in the dose indicator window:
When there are 20 doses left, a red mark appears in the dose indicator window, which means it is time to get a new prescription.
When the “0” on the red background reaches the bottom of the window, all doses have been used and the Turbohaler should be replaced.
It is not possible to shake the Symbicort Turbohaler to assess how much medicine is left. The sound it makes when shaken is produced by a drying agent and not the medicine that is left in the Symbicort Turbohaler .
Symbicort Turbohaler 100/6 Inhalation powder (120 doses), Symbicort Turbohaler 200/6 Inhalation powder (120 doses) and Symbicort Turbohaler 400/12 Inhalation powder (60 doses) are all priced at £28.0011. The real world cost of Symbicort Turbohaler 200/6 when taken as Maintenance and Reliever Therapy is £13.98 for 28 days.*7
For full indication click here.
*A total of 4,581 patients were included in the study. 119 patients received 1 puff 100/6 BID plus as needed, with 2.11 median inhalations per day. 3,106 patients received 1 puff 200/6 BID plus as needed, with 2.14 median inhalations per day. 1,355 patients received 2 puffs 200/6 BID plus as needed, with 4.05 median inhalations per day.7
Calculation based on Basic NHS Cost stated in Symbicort Turbohaler 200/6 Prescribing Information; 1 pack x 120 doses: £28.00.6
The formoterol in Symbicort has a duration of effect of at least 12 hours.1,2 The half-lives of the budesonide and formoterol components are 4 and 17 hours respectively.1,2
If a patient misses a dose they should be directed to take it as soon as they remember, unless it is nearly time for their next dose, in which case patients should skip the missed dose.8,9 Patients are not to take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose.8,9
Common side effects with Symbicort Turbohaler may include, palpitations, trembling or shaking, oral thrush, mild sore throat, coughing and a hoarse voice and headache.1,2 Patients should speak to their doctor, nurse or pharmacist if they experience any of these symptoms or any other side effects.
| SYSTEM ORGAN CLASS | FREQUENCY* | ADVERSE DRUG REACTION |
| Infections and infestations | Common | Candida infections in the oropharynx |
| Psychiatric disorders | Uncommon | Aggression, psychomotor hyperactivity, anxiety, sleep disorders |
| Nervous system disorders | Common | Headache, tremor |
| Uncommon | Dizziness | |
| Cardiac disorders | Common | Palpitations |
| Uncommon | Tachycardia | |
| Respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders | Common | Mild irritation in the throat, coughing, dysphonia including hoarseness |
| Gastrointestinal disorders | Uncommon | Nausea |
| Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders | Uncommon | Bruises |
| Musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders | Uncommon | Muscle cramps |
| Eye disorders | Uncommon | Vision blurred |
If an individual patient should require a combination of doses other than those available in the combination inhaler, appropriate doses of beta agonists and/or corticosteroids by individual inhalers should be prescribed.1,2 Symbicort (budesonide/formoterol) side effects including wheezing or bronchospasms need immediate intervention and may need Symbicort treatment to be stopped.1,2 Other more serious systemic side effects can occur, usually only at high dose and if Symbicort is taken for a long time. These can include infections, decreased bone density, glaucoma or cataracts.1,2
A full list of side effects and drug interactions can be seen in the Symbicort Turbohaler 100/6 SmPC, the Symbicort Turbohaler 200/6 SmPC and the Symbicort Turbohaler 400/12 SmPC.
BID, twice daily; FAQ, Frequently Asked Questions, MART, Maintenance And Reliever Therapy, SABA, Short-acting β2 agonists, DPI, Dry Powder Inhaler, pMDI, pressurised metered-dose inhaler, SmPC, Summary of Product Characteristics, ICS, inhaled corticosteroids, UK, United Kingdom, LABA, long-acting β2-agonist.
GB-70138 I DOP: April 2026
Adverse events should be reported. Reporting forms and information can be found at www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store. Adverse events should also be reported to AstraZeneca by visiting https://contactazmedical.astrazeneca.com/ or by calling 0800 783 0033.
This website was created for UK HCPs and has been designed to provide information to educate, empower and enable them in the great work they are doing for patients across a range of therapy areas. This website is intended for doctors, nurses, and pharmacists in the UK. Other UK residents please visit astrazeneca.co.uk.
