Budesonide / formoterol for Asthma, Maintenance User Reviews (Page 2)

• Suzi...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 27, 2014

Symbicort (budesonide / formoterol) "I've been on Advair for several years which worked great for maintenance of my ashtma-no side effects. Though, my health insurance changed and they don't cover Advair anymore. Dr put me on Symbicort. After the first two weeks I've developed side effects of nervousness, light-headedness, and the most distressing-ringing in the ears. Now I'm going on a month on Symbicort and still the ringing persists. Lung function is great. I've never needed my rescue inhaler on Symbicort or Advair either. Now in the process of trying to get my insurance company to pay for Advair which I prefer in the first place."

• Nayomi
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 30, 2012

Symbicort (budesonide / formoterol) "I've always had mild asthma, but about 6 months ago, it got really bad and I was using my Ventolin like every 2 hours. Especially at night, I'd wake up almost every hour and need to have a puff of Ventolin. It was bad, I know, but I kept putting up with it. But last time I went to the doctor, I mentioned how bad it had got and she put me on another asthma medication called Symbicort. It's saved my life, makes it SO much more easy to manage. Now I never use Ventolin at all and I only have two puffs of this Symbicort at night... it's amazing. It's made my life so much easier."

• Golfe...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 17, 2014

Symbicort (budesonide / formoterol) "I went to the Dr. on Wednesday for severe asthma and he put me on Symbicort along with a 10 day dose of Prednisone. I can tell you that Thursday I used my Ventolin inhaler only once where I had been using the Ventolin 10-12 times a day. I woke up Friday morning not wheezing. This is the first time I can ever remember not wheezing and short of breath in the morning. After 2 puffs of Symbicort Friday morning, I am clear as a bell this afternoon. This stuff is amazing and I feel read to start running again."

• Angel...
• August 15, 2017

Symbicort (budesonide / formoterol) "Symbicort worked for about a year. Then one day as I got to work I could not see very well from my left eye. I went to the eye doctor only to be told that my retina had fluid in it. After answering all the questions the conclusion was that the steroids in the medication was affecting my vision. Moreover, my wrist joint and back started to hurt often. My family physician recommended other drugs but I decided to stop all my medications an go on a whole food diet. I must say it has been six weeks and I don't need the inhaler, my joint pains are gone and my vision is getting back to normal. It was a blessing to have the drug but I felt that I made a pact with the devil since it almost destroy the rest of my body."

• seeeri
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 11, 2016

Symbicort (budesonide / formoterol) "I've started taking it when i had asthma exacerbation last two months. Usually, when I have flare up it will go away within 2 to 3 weeks. I was worried because it's almost a month already and I haven't been feeling well. Symptoms are fatigue, chest pain/tightness, shortness of breath, rapid heart palpitations, throat irritation, phlegm, reflux? I went to the doctor and told me it was an acid reflux. I still continue to use this drug together with PPI but i don't see any improvement. I've made my research about the side effects. It may control my asthma but the side effects are much worse. I'm getting off this drug immediately."

• 50ano
• October 18, 2013

Symbicort (budesonide / formoterol) "I began taking Advair, but after 6 months I began having hand tremors. I tried Symbicort, but the side effects were too strong for me to tolerate. My asthma symptoms were improved. I was very nervous and stressed when I tried it twice. I called for advice about the medication and was told that Symbicort, Advair and Dulera are only slightly different in chemical composition. It was suggested by the pharmacist to call my doctor to discuss trying the other medications. Dulera works well for me now. I do have mild leg cramps. It may be good to contact your doctor and see which medication will give you the least side effects."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 10 years or more
• July 2, 2019

Symbicort (budesonide / formoterol) "I was diagnosed with asthma at four years old. Spent many years in and out of the hospital due to breathing related issues. I was finally put on Symbicort at around nine or ten but was on it too long and it eventually stunted my growth, which I guess my mother didn’t know was a side effect for prolonged use in children. I was taken off of it and asthma got really bad again, then as I got older I made the dumb decision to start smoking and felt like I was an inch away from death every morning. In my late teens I got back on this medication and am now 28, smoke free and asthma attack free. It does have side effects that I’m sure I don’t notice because I’ve been on this drug so long but the ones I do notice are: sore throat, hoarseness, dizziness immediately after use, heart palpitations. Not terrible. I’d say there are worse things and it controls my asthma perfectly. Pro tip: always always rinse your mouth after use."

• Mossb...
• May 27, 2014

Symbicort (budesonide / formoterol) "While this medicine seems to work well, it does have side effects. For me it is very easy bruising. I also had two cases of a broken blood vessels. The really scary part, however, is trying to stop. Do not go cold turkey. I am now trying to ease off and am having anxiety attacks for hours."

• Tutu
• June 25, 2015

Symbicort (budesonide / formoterol) "Symbicort helped breath easier in the beginning. After a few weeks it actually made it worse and on top of it gave me terrible dibilitating back pain and hoarse throat. Side effects are not worth it! I would not recommend."

• Gamec...
• November 17, 2013

Symbicort (budesonide / formoterol) "I knew this medicine helped, in conjunction with the Spiriva I am on, but didn't realize until today how much. I noticed this morning, I didn't really feel it or anything going down but didn't pay attention and just went about my business (not sure how long it had been like that). Have had to use my rescue inhaler often today, and had to use my nebulizer. I didn't put two and two together until I noticed the dosage counter was on 0 when I looked at it tonight and it all made since. Only then did I realize how important it was. With it left out of the equation, my asthma was definitely not under control."

• Later
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 16, 2019

Symbicort (budesonide / formoterol) "I was not responding well to other Asthma meds, so my doctor put me on Symbicort, one year ago. In that year I have lost 2" in height, have a stomach ulcer, and hurt all over, but, the good news is, I am breathing again. One would wonder, though, if it's worth the side effects. In my humble opinion, yes it is. Nothing worse then not being able to breath, and wondering if the Prednisone, you just took will help. Symbicort has it's flaws, but then, all COPD, and Asthma meds have their side effects."

• LeeLee
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 31, 2015

Symbicort (budesonide / formoterol) "I was able to breathe finally. I had always been out of breath. All day. When I started taking Symbicort, I could breathe. And I would've been able to clean, and play with my kids, go for a walk, excercise. However, I stopped taking it. The side effects were horrible. I was angry, on edge. Worst constant headache ever! It wasn't fair to my family. Waiting to find an alternative."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 3, 2019

Symbicort (budesonide / formoterol) "I was diagnosed with asthma at 19 years old after I got a lung infection. After some months of using symbicort twice a day I noticed that it really helped my breathing. It does have some side effects though. Mine were definitely headaches, which I used to rarely have, dizziness and tiredness."

• pyxie...
• June 13, 2015

Symbicort (budesonide / formoterol) "My doctor gave me a sample of Symbicort last week. Before I began taking it , I got on this site to see what experiences others have had with it. I was very concerned because many of the side effects I read about made me think twice about taking it at all. I did notice that a few people were taking 2 puffs , twice a day. So I figured maybe that might be too much. So I am going to try 1 puff , once a day , at approximately the same time every day and see how it goes. Last night was the first time I used it - and it DID work. Slept thru the night without using my inhaler at all. Feel pretty good this morning , and still have not used my rescue inhaler. So far , so good. But we'll see in a couple of weeks."

• Jack
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 25, 2019

Symbicort (budesonide / formoterol) "I am over 50 and I've started experiencing breathing issues around 5 years ago. It was always during the cold weather or after running. I did my tests and technically I don't have an asthma, but I am on the border. Initially, the doctor prescribed Ventolin inhaler, but it didn't help at all and I even felt worse. Then ( 3 years ago) I was put on Symbicort 200 and I am taking it twice a day with two puffs and it's very helpful. What a huge difference! Also, I have to say that I haven't experienced any of these side effects mentioned in this blog. My occasional headache is no more than before , I don't have stomach problem, hearth problem, sleep problem, or any other health issues. Seriously."

• Andy
• Taken for 10 years or more
• January 4, 2016

Symbicort (budesonide / formoterol) "To start with I am in the UK and for me is an effective Asthma controller, it works but; lets talk side effects: The first thing that occurred was the hallucinations, it was like being on LSD. My libido disappeared. I started to get angry very quickly and am now intolerant of the most stupid things. Short term memory loss has become a severe problem; My eyesight has worsened very quickly and I get eye infections easily. On top of all that, my throat has become so bad, (potential Candida) I can no longer sing in public - it would have helped had I been told to rinse after every use. Having seen the official list of side effects, for all its good this has got to go."

• Anonymous
• August 2, 2015

Symbicort (budesonide / formoterol) "Symbicort worked wonders for me, but when I talked my voice would trail off. And I had to clear my throat to get my voice back. Sometimes my voice sounded scratchy as well. Doctor recommend I washed my mouth after each use. But it still didn't work. I am in sales so talking is important and had to change to something else."

• Hateit
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 29, 2022

Symbicort (budesonide / formoterol) "My doctor started to refuse my ventilon, only wanted me to take symbicort. Have had headaches, and the worst thrush in my throat, which doesn't go away, Tightness also. Its the worst drug I've ever used for my asthma, and my asthma has never been worse well on it"

• Wonwon
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 25, 2018

Symbicort (budesonide / formoterol) "Been using symbicort for 2 months, having previously been on respigen. Immediately the drug improved my asthma however, within 2 weeks of using the drug I started to develop frequent bouts of bad anxiety and stomach nausea and diarrhoea which resulted in gastritis! My body feels a lot weaker and I’ve developed aches and pains in my joints. I am now off the drug and have instead been using my respigen inhaler again which is working but I have to been using it quite often due to withdrawal symptoms (flu like) coming off the symbicort inhaler. Having experienced it for myself I believe this drug is dangerous and should be taken with care and caution!"

• Evan
• May 24, 2016

Symbicort (budesonide / formoterol) "Started taking Symbicort for increasingly worse asthma after a chest infection and doctor wanted to try a stronger preventer. First few weeks were OK, but after that I started to develop increasing generalised anxiety. I have had mild anxiety on and off and usually situationally related but the anxiety I experienced from this was generalised and grew in intensity each day... Affecting my work and home life. My sleep has also been badly affected. A lot of difficulty getting to sleep- even sleeping tablets didn't help much. I also started to get tinnitus (ringing in ears), nasopharengitis, red dry eyes that made me look stoned, bad breath etc. The last straw for me was very doing voice changes, increasing irritability and agitation."

• Joano
• August 29, 2020

Symbicort (budesonide / formoterol) "Have had chronic asthma since I was 12 years old and am now 43. Have tried many different meds, throughout life and nothing but my rescue inhaler really worked. Was prescribed Advair and it worked great but caused bad heart palpitations, unfortunately. Went back to using rescue inhaler only until my doc. prescribed me Symbicort almost two years ago for poorly controlled asthma and it works great! The side effects that I notice are heart palpitations but not as severe as with Advair, aching joints, eye problems like blurriness and recently had a bad eye infection but not sure of the cause? I feel very torn about stopping though because I hardly ever reach for my rescue puffer now and feel like I’m more active! Been having bad hip pain and Im wondering if it’s not causing that too? If I try to go off, I can’t breathe well so I’m trying to look at the bright side of being able to breathe."

• Seth
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 1, 2019

Symbicort (budesonide / formoterol) "The drug itself is very effective. The manufacturers need to fix the meter that reads how many doses are remaining. I spent a month thinking my asthma had become steroid resistant because the thing read I had 40 or so doses left when I was empty. I had missed work multiple times not having an effective way to control my asthma."

• Darbaby
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• October 13, 2015

Symbicort (budesonide / formoterol) "I was diagnosed with allergy related asthma when I was four years old. I've been on several maintenance medicine, but never thought they did much. I was hospitalized when I was 15 with asthmatic bronchitis and my doctor decided to put my on Symbicort which was finally allowed in the US at the time. Since then my asthma has turned around 180 and I haven't had any major issues. I've taken two puffs twice a day for the past 7 years and it's truly a lifesaver. It even opens my airway within 5 minutes of taking it."

• Vegas...
• May 18, 2016

Symbicort (budesonide / formoterol) "I've been on Symbicort for 5 months - I was originally diagnosed with COPD, I was on Advair for 4 yrs and had bad side effects. I was angry and depressed. Advair made my chest feel heavy. I switched to Spiriva it did not help, took ventolin 6 x a day. I wen't on Foradil but would wake up wheezing every night and felt the worst I have ever felt. Finally had asthma testing and prescribed Symbicort 2 inhalations twice a day. I've never felt better. It has literally changed my life! I am having ringing in the ears but I'll take that over not being able to breath any day!"

• Alan
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 2, 2019

Symbicort (budesonide / formoterol) "Took Symbicort for a month. Didn’t help the asthma and I got the following side effects: feeling sick all the time, muscle/joint pain, difficulty in concentrating. The price is one of the reasons we need Medicare for All. (Doctor gave me a free sample.)"