I have Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. Why would my Dr. change me from taking Symbicort to taking Combivent?
What is the difference between symbicort and combivent?
Question posted by JourneyOneTwo on 30 Aug 2009
Last updated on 24 August 2017
4 Answers
patricia shelby
30 Nov 2011
Your doctor knows what he is doing. There is much research which support the belief that Combivent works more effectively and for the long haul for the COPD patient that does Symbicort. Ask your doctor for clippings of such research which support the effectivenesss of Combivent. I suspect that those clippings will justify the effectiveness of Combivent as compared to Symbicort and his stamp of approval will be to your liking. Hang on to your doctor. He sounds highly compentent as he should be, for you as well as his many numerous other patients which he treats regularly and successfully.
Patricia
COPD Patient Recovering as well with the use of Combivent
branted
17 Feb 2012
Doctors are only human and few have Pharmacist Degrees. Asking your Pharmacist about the differences between the two medications, as well as interactions, possible adverse reactions, etc., is always a good idea. Plus, your Pharmacist should be advised of any allergies you have, to avert possible interactions between any medications you take or may be prescribed. In this day & time, few doctors have or take the time to look all this up on every drug.
fgranmeer4
11 Aug 2011
Hi, I don't see why he changed you, because they are different types of inhalers. Symbicort is a steroid which is used every 12 hours, and combivent is a rescue inhaler to be used, lets say if you are out someplace and you get breathless you just take a few puffs of the combivent. I think you should discuss this with your doctor.
rmichellev
24 Aug 2017
Combivent is not a rescue inhaler. It is intended for use 4 times/day & takes up to 15 minutes to work. I don't think most non-specialists have a clue about these drugs.
Bigbird48
8 Jan 2010
Reasons he might have changed you is that you might have complained that the Symbicort wasn't helping much. Or he might have noticed a change in your condition and decided this would work better for you. Best way to find out is to ask your Dr questions if he's reluctent to answer your question then I'd be finding a new Dr.
Marvell
1 Sep 2009
Symbicort contains a combination of budesonide and formoterol. Budesonide is a steroid that reduces inflammation in the body. Formoterol is a long-acting bronchodilator that relaxes muscles in the airways to improve breathing.
Symbicort is used to prevent bronchospasm in people with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Combivent contains albuterol and ipratropium, which are bronchodilators that relax muscles in the airways and increase air flow to the lungs.
Combivent is used to prevent bronchospasm in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who are also using other medicines to control their condition.
When we compare both Symbicort and Combivent, they both contain a beta-agonist (formoterol and albuterol).
The difference is budesonide in Symbicort is a steroid and ipratropium in Combivent is an anticholinergic agent. Ipratropium works better for COPD patients because it is used to prevent bronchospasm or narrowing airways in the lungs, in people with bronchitis, emphysema, or COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease).
Budesonide (ingredient of Symbicort) is used more to reduce inflammation, which is present in asthma but is not as beneficial as ipratropium, for COPD patients.
https://www.drugs.com/mtm/ipratropium-inhalation.html
Related topics
combivent, symbicort, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
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