Budesonide/formoterol, sold under the brand name Symbicort among others, is a combination medication containing budesonide and formoterol used in the management of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It contains two active ingredients delivered via a single inhaler:
- budesonide, an anti-inflammatory corticosteroid which acts by reducing and preventing respiratory tract inflammation
- formoterol, a rapid-acting and long-lasting ?2-agonist which acts by causing bronchodilation
It was initially marketed by AstraZeneca. It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines, the most effective and safe medicines needed in a health system.
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Medical uses
Budesonide/formoterol is the first combination inhaled corticosteroid/long-acting beta agonist (ICS/LABA) that has shown some efficacy as a medicine not only used to prevent asthma attacks, but also provide quick relief of an asthma attack.
In patients with asthma, budesonide/formoterol formulation for both maintenance and as-needed treatment reduces exacerbations better than as-needed formoterol or as-needed terbutaline. Nevertheless, it is unclear as to whether this strategy is better than increasing a maintenance dose of Symbicort or similar combined inhaler.
The use for quick relief has been approved by the GINA guidelines 2006 (Evidence A), however Symbicort is indicated in the United States only as a maintenance medication. In March 2009, the FDA approved the use of Symbicort pMDI to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease ( COPD).
Doses
Symbicort in the United States is a metered-dose inhaler and is available in 160/4.5mcg and 80/4.5mcg per actuation.
In the European Union, Australia, Canada, Israel, Saudi Arabia and elsewhere the combination is available as a dry powder inhaler in the following doses: 100/6 (80/4.5), 200/6 (160/4.5) and 400/12 (320/9), where the larger number is the dose per actuation of budesonide (in micrograms) and the lower number the dose of formoterol (also in micrograms).
Side Effects Symbicort Video
Side effects
Common
- Mild throat irritation
- Coughing
- Hoarseness
- Aphthae
- Headache
- Trembling
- Heartbeat acceleration
- Insomnia
- Oral candidiasis
Uncommon side-effects
- Restlessness
- Nausea
- Muscular cramps
- Agitation
Rare
- Rash
- Itchiness
- Respiratory spasms
- Palpitation
- Bruises
- Dizziness
Very rare
- High blood sugar level
- Face bloatedness
- Chest pain
- Steroid psychosis
Market
Budesonide/formoterol formulation was introduced in Sweden in 2000. It was approved for use in the United States in July 2006. It is now approved for use in at least 70 countries, yielding global sales in excess of $1 billion in 2005, and now approximately $3.7 billion per annum.
There are several patents related to the drug; some of them are already expired.
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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