Symbicort for Asthma, Maintenance User Reviews (Page 5)

• Fif...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 26, 2018

"Dr. prescribed me this after Advair stopped being covered by my insurance. I’ve been using it for about 2-3 years now. For me, the Symbicort is more effective than any other control medicine I’ve used. I hardly ever have to use my rescue inhaler, and I used to use my Ventolin all the time. Now my Ventolin actually expires before I can use it. Symbicort is amazing!! Only con is if you stop using it for a few days, you really start to feel it - chest tightness, shortness of breath, etc. So it’s really important to keep up with your refills on this medication."

• Cha...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 1, 2017

"Symbicort did nothing for my adult-onset asthma. In fact, I get the sense that nothing is coming out of my turbo inhaler. I am going to ask my doctor to switch me to something else. I am very doubtful about the turbo inhaler delivery method. What was wrong with conventional inhalers? Nothing, I suspect. The turbo inhaler is just a gimmick that should be recalled."

• Ema...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 12, 2020

"I have been on Symbicort for about 6 months. It does help to keep my asthma under control (I still have to use my inhaler and nebulizer when using Symbicort, but I suppose everyone's situation is different), but I have had many side effects. It makes my throat hurt terribly, it is difficult to speak, and I cannot sing (I'm a musician) when I take it even half as much as I am prescribed to. It also has greatly affected my mood and mental state. I am prone to depression, and this has made my bouts of depression amplified and last longer than I have ever experienced. I also read that osteoporosis is a side effect, so I have stopped taking it. I am using my nebulizer a lot until I find another way to keep my breathing under control. It is also REALLY expensive, over $300 without insurance."

• The...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 4, 2020

"I'm one of these people who, if there are side effects, I get them in spades. This is true for Symbicort as well. Sure, I can breathe. But the side effects are absolutely not worth it. Unbearably itchy skin. Headaches like migraines. Constipation, then diarrhea. Belching and bloating. Problems urinating. Weight gain. And the clincher? Vaginal bleeding when I went through menopause 6 years ago. Not a good choice for me. Calling my doctor's office first thing tomorrow."

• bre...
• October 16, 2008

"I started using Symbicort, and after the very first dose, I noticed I didn't have any breathing problems. Before Symbicort, I was using my albuterol inhaler 4 times per day. After Symbicort, I have not used it, although I carry it for emergencies."

• Kim...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 12, 2022

"Thank you all for your reviews! I’m 62 and have had asthma most of my life. As I age, it’s getting worse. It’s been about three or four weeks of me being on Symbicort 160, and I have been miserable ever since! I had no idea until seeing your post that Symbicort is the culprit of all of my angst! I have excruciating muscle spasms, a constant running nose, annoying/constant clearing of my throat, horrible dry mouth/bad breath - I could go on and on! Over the last week, I have eliminated several other non-important medications from my daily routine, trying to single out which is causing me all these problems. I am now down to two, Symbicort being one of them, and since this is the newest of the two, I will not be taking this medication ever again effective immediately! Again, thank you all for your honesty and for helping me make this decision. I may go back to Advair and see if that will help with my asthma maintenance."

• Dan...
• November 5, 2017

"Had asthma since age 7 and suffered badly. I was hospitalized multiple times during fall/winter seasons. During my mid-teens, I was introduced to Theophylline, which helped but caused shakiness for the first hours. In my 20s, I asked a new pulmonary doctor to put me on Flovent because of a TV commercial. It worked better than any drug. Just 2 puffs in the morning. I still deal with weather changes but hardly, and I simply just take an extra 2 puffs at night. So, I saw Symbicort and wanted to read the reviews. No one ever mentions Flovent (Qvar), which I never had bad reactions to. Try before Symbicort."

• Chr...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 4, 2018

"I was prescribed this to help control eosinophilic pneumonia while tapering off of Prednisone. It can be hard to tell if you have even loaded a dose in the inhalation chamber. The powder is fairly chalky and definitely needs to be rinsed after inhaling. That said, I never noticed any side effects from this medication, but it did nothing to suppress the inflammation in my lungs. Twice, I had needed to return to Prednisone before stopping with the Symbicort altogether."

• Str...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 23, 2022

"I have been using this for a couple of weeks and decided today that I cannot take it anymore - it has caused headaches, bloating, and, worst of all, severe depression. I am a long-term depressive anyway, and I take anti-depressants, but this med has sent me back into a state where I cry uncontrollably for no clear reason and cannot concentrate on my work. I was taking two puffs of 400 mg per day. This morning I did not take it, and during the day I had to use my Ventolin four times. This is not great, but I'm just not prepared to poison myself with Symbicort anymore. E-mailed the manufacturer - nothing back. E-mailed the doctor - still waiting for an answer. Very upset by this whole thing. Going back to Innovair. It's not that effective for me, but I can't be doing with this."

• Ril...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• April 29, 2018

"I find Symbicort quite effective for keeping away flare-ups when I use it consistently. I used to only take it once my symptoms were already bad, and it did nothing to help me then, but now in my teens I’ve remembered to take it every day for the last year or two. 1 puff in the morning and 1 in the evening. When I notice yellow symptoms, I increased to 2 morning/2 evening, and then the flare-up lasts about a week instead of 3 or 4. Exercise and cold are my major triggers. I don’t really notice any side effects, but it seems like they’re pretty common. That plus the cost makes me interested in something different."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• November 28, 2024

"Overall, when I first started using the inhaler, it was okay on a lower dose. In more recent years, it seemed like less of the corticosteroids was in the device. Maybe something was wrong with it, but either way, I found out after years it’s not good for certain people with heart conditions. Mine is an arrhythmia. As I got older, the lowest dose was also helpful, so the breathing was better and fewer side effects for me on a low dose. Had to get off because of my condition, but it did help my asthma and allergies, and it helped to breathe."

• Sec...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 6, 2024

"I have always suffered greatly from allergies, but when I moved to a city at 40, the condition eventually spiraled to include asthma. Starting late last autumn, the asthma got increasingly more severe, necessitating the frequent use of a rescue inhaler, frequently up to five times in a day! I finally could see a doctor, who prescribed Symbicort. From the first dose, I started breathing easier, and that night, I slept for ten hours from sheer exhaustion, as I hadn't been able to sleep for more than four hours at a time for weeks, because of waking up from yet another asthma attack with my lungs filling up with phlegm again. So far, I am one month on. I haven't had to use the emergency inhaler once. I began exercising again after a few days in, and currently do calisthenics every morning and walks of 3 or more miles several times a week. This medication has restored my health, and possibly saved my life! I've had minor side effects, hoarse throat, etc. just at first."

• Han...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 25, 2022

"I am 72 years of age, and my asthma has gotten much worse in the last few years. Without the Symbicort 160/4.5, I would be in and out of the hospital constantly, I believe! Two puffs twice a day controls it quite well. It keeps my breathing fairly decent and lessens the chest pain and coughing. When inhaling it, I hold it in as long as I can. It has greatly improved my quality of life!"

• Dar...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• November 12, 2022

"I have had asthma since I was a kid and went into adulthood never finding a drug that worked for me. Then, in my 30s, I was prescribed Symbicort. Unless I'm sick, it works great. Usually just one puff at night. I rarely need my blue puffer. One negative: if I go without it for a couple of days (not noticing the cartridge is empty), I get very tired and moody. I hate that I depend on it, but it's been a godsend."

• sea...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 18, 2023

"I was diagnosed with asthma at 11, now 49. Changed from Clenil to Symbicort at 47 and no idea why. Did not work for me. I just swapped back, and my asthma is much improved. I initially thought this was some GP cut back on cost, but I don't think it is that now. Maybe it works for some but not others. Stick with what works for you."

• Mar...
• February 24, 2022

"I've been on Symbicort for a little over a year for asthma. It has helped me tremendously, but I've had side effects: muscle spasms and some sinus issues. I've also noticed that it doesn't work as well when it gets down to the last 15-20 inhalations. Asthma symptoms return at the end of the life of the Symbicort inhaler. Changing my diet and drinking a ton of water has helped with muscle spasms."

• Ant...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 24, 2022

"Best inhaler I’ve used. My asthma was gone after a year on QVar 7 years ago and came back hard, 18 months ago with COVID. Used my albuterol inhaler 2-4 times a day and was like breathing through a straw on hikes. I’ve been on Symbicort a week. Have not used my albuterol inhaler once in that time. An 11-mile hike was a breeze. Plenty of clear phlegm that I have to spit out, but I’m finally getting my lungs cleared out. I was jittery the first 24 hours, and that subsided. Slightly hoarse voice here and there also. But I can fully breathe again!!!!"

• Tha...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 27, 2022

"After developing breathing problems about five or six years ago (wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness), I was diagnosed as having asthma last year and was prescribed Symbicort. Since my first dosage of it, I have not had to use a rescue inhaler, and I feel completely 'normal' again. Before going on Symbicort, I never went anywhere without having my rescue inhaler nearby. Even during the night, I would have to take it. My doctor told me to take two puffs twice a day of Symbicort, but because I'm afraid of getting some of the many symptoms that many have mentioned and that are listed on the packaging, I often take just one dose twice a day unless I start to feel any congestion, etc., and then I go back to using it twice a day for a week or so. I wasn't sure if I should be reducing the dosage, but so far, I am thrilled with Symbicort. It has totally transformed my life. As yet, I thankfully have not experienced any negative reactions from it."

• ind...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 9, 2022

"I've had asthma my whole life. And have tried lots of different medications for it. Symbicort, by far, has been the best I've tried. Before I tried Symbicort, I was on the max dose of Advair. And I had to use my rescue inhaler at least once a day. After 4 days of being on Symbicort, it controlled my asthma to the point where I only had to use my rescue inhaler maybe once a month."

• Jes...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 26, 2021

"So I was put on Symbicort and taken off Seretide due to having pneumonia, pleurisy, and chest infections in the space of two months. This drug is by far the worst experience I’ve had! It made my asthma 10x worse, my hands and feet swelled, it made me feel really tired and aches all over my body, my skin began to peel off, and even my toenails started to randomly fall off! I had all the tests needed to confirm it wasn’t anything else. My doctor has now taken me off this drug and put me back on Seretide. I feel so much better and can actually breathe! I personally didn’t have a great experience, but we all react differently."

• NiN...
• August 26, 2021

"I took this medication one time before I went to sleep. I woke up having an asthma attack! It felt like my chest was caving in, and I was drawing mucus from my lungs. Thank goodness I had a rescue inhaler. I won’t be taking Symbicort anymore."

• Bab...
• November 18, 2021

"I was prescribed Symbicort 160 for mild asthma 2 years ago. The first time I took it (2 doses), my heart started beating so fast, and I started shaking, a LOT. It was awful. The doctor told me to reduce the dose to one puff, but it still made me jittery and shaky. I tried to live with it for a while because it made my asthma a lot better, and the coughing stopped completely, but eventually got sick of it and stopped. I tried to take it again recently because my asthma is acting up again, but the feeling is just awful. I also have a dry mouth, and I feel anxious and irritable."

• Ret...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 19, 2021

"I suffer from asthma and have had a chronic cough since coming down with bronchitis over a year ago. I'm in my second week of using the Symbicort 200 Turbohaler, and WOW! What a difference. I hardly ever cough now, and certainly not to the intensity that I did before. I have no side effects except a very minor sore throat for a few minutes after taking it. This medicine is a godsend."

• Ste...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 24, 2021

"This med works great! I was previously taking Arnuity Ellipta (inhaled steroid only) and Singulair. Now I just take one maintenance med, Symbicort. I barely ever use my rescue inhaler as long as I remember to take Symbicort as prescribed."

• Sym...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 29, 2020

"The more you use, the more pronounced the side effects. Between the anxiety and the bruises on my hands, I think I look like I'm using drugs. Hopefully, nobody notices my brains on a little vacation, too. At least it's not Advair."