What is the difference between symbicort and combivent?

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.

http://www.drugs.com/mtm/ipratropium-inhalation.html

http://www.drugs.com/combivent.html

http://www.drugs.com/symbicort.html