Symbicort and Anxiety: What Users Say

• axs...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• July 4, 2013

For COPD "Symbicort works well as a maintenance medication for my COPD. I use in combination with Spiriva. The only downside is that it causes anxiety and 'jitters' for me. I am already an anxious person so this can be a problem."

• Gob...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 9, 2020

For Asthma, Maintenance "After reading all of your blogs, I thought that I should give you all of the symptoms that I had. First: intestinal bleeding, vaginal bleeding (with no uterus), sinus bleeding, skin bruising, skin peeling off causing extensive bleeding, torn Achilles, screaming leg cramps, loss of muscle tone, osteoporosis (loss of 3” in height). Bloating, diarrhea, constipation, eye issues, depression, anxiety, heart palpitations...I’m sure there are others that I have overlooked. Wouldn’t be my first choice or my last choice...stay away from this drug!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 14, 2019

For Asthma, Maintenance "Loved how it worked the first week or two, but then developed bad chest pain, racing heart, jitteriness, muscle spasms, fatigue, dry mouth, pain urinating - being switched to another inhaler, without formoterol."

• Cod...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 10, 2019

For Asthma, Maintenance "Prescribed when I had a respiratory infection... great! BUT I couldn’t get off it... prior to this I might have used my ProAir inhaler twice a week, mainly when I was exposed to mold or very furry dogs. Since being on Symbicort I have lost 2 1/2 inches in height... bloating, vaginal bleeding, depression, anxiety, rash, peripheral neuropathy, Achilles’ tendon tear, muscle weakness, bruising, easy bleeding, tears of the skin (thinning of the skin). I was 69 when I was put on the drug, so all of these symptoms were due to “aging”... don’t think so, as I didn’t have any of these problems prior to Symbicort. The most insidious part is that it attacks your muscles, weakens them and you need your “core” muscles to breathe... polio attacked muscles... they developed the iron lung to allow people to breathe. After being off this drug for one week, I can feel my diaphragm again. Still working on total “back to normal”"

• See...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 9, 2019

For Asthma, Maintenance "I’ve had asthma for most of my life and tried many different medications. This one has been one of the worst. I tried both the Turbohaler and the Rapihaler over a period of 3-4 months and found both gave me headaches, muscle aches, nausea, a loud heartbeat, broken sleep, increased anxiety, and some depression. I’ve had success with Pulmicort, so I imagine that it’s the formoterol that is the issue. There is also a contradiction for Symbicort and some antidepressants, so be careful. I won’t be using this again in the future."

• Anonymous
• June 8, 2013

For COPD, Maintenance "Experienced some dizziness at first, then felt a nervousness or anxiety feeling inside for several hours after the dosage. First time using this medication, and need more time on it to be sure of these problems. Was taking Advair previously with no effects (except better breathing ability)."

• Anonymous
• June 8, 2013

For COPD, Maintenance "Experienced some dizziness at first, then felt a nervousness or anxiety feeling inside for several hours after the dosage. First time using this medication, and need more time on it to be sure of these problems. Was taking Advair previously with no effects (except better breathing ability)."

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

For Asthma, Maintenance "I've been on Advair for several years, which worked great for the maintenance of my asthma-no side effects. Though, my health insurance changed, and they don't cover Advair anymore. The doctor 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."

• Mos...
• May 27, 2014

For Asthma, Maintenance "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 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."

• Lee...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 31, 2015

For Asthma, Maintenance "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, exercise. 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."

• Eva...
• May 24, 2016

For Asthma, Maintenance "Started taking Symbicort for increasingly worse asthma after a chest infection, and the doctor wanted to try a stronger preventer. The first few weeks were OK, but after that I started to develop increasing generalized anxiety. I have had mild anxiety on and off, and usually situationally related, but the anxiety I experienced from this was generalized 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), nasopharyngitis, red dry eyes that made me look stoned, bad breath, etc. The last straw for me was the voice changes, increasing irritability, and agitation."

• Won...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 25, 2018

For Asthma, Maintenance "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, stomach nausea, and diarrhea, 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 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!"

• Deb...
• March 10, 2019

For Asthma, Maintenance "I have been taking this for about a year now. I developed pneumonia and pleurisy a little over a year ago. Was on a prednisone for months, and we all know the side effects of that. After a combo of Qvar and Symbicort, I started just taking the Symbicort. Symbicort, at first, seemed to be the only inhaler that worked for me and didn’t give me any side effects. From reading all the comments, I think I have had every side effect mentioned! Blurry vision, stomach problems, feet cramps often, horrible anxiety, racing heart, sleep problems, back pain, chest feeling like on fire, dizziness, shortness of breath, now knee pain, you name it. I didn’t immediately connect it with the Symbicort but have been more seriously thinking that direction lately, especially hearing everyone else’s experience here. It would all have to be related when I have never had any issues like this before, I think it is linked to long-term use."

• Sym...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 18, 2018

For Asthma, Maintenance "Long story short, I was prescribed this drug and ended up coughing from March through July! Serious hard coughing, which caused bladder incontinence and anxiety. I would never tell anyone to use this, ever!!"

• CBL...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 9, 2022

For Asthma, Maintenance "Nightmare. I was on Flovent 2 times daily and Albuterol as needed. I went to see an allergist who suggested I try Symbicort instead. I took the prescribed 2 puffs this morning at 8. My throat and lungs felt hot and irritated. My cough got much worse and my heart was racing and pounding. I had terrible anxiety, trouble focusing my eyes, headaches, and a racing heart all day. It’s now 9:30 at night and still not back to normal. Never, never, never again."

• Sto...
• August 31, 2017

For Asthma, Maintenance "A reasonably good drug at controlling my moderate seasonal asthma (I was diagnosed with asthma in my early 40s. During allergy season, I have moderate asthma symptoms - really crummy lungs with wheezing - though I've never had an actual asthma attack. During non-allergy season, I don't need any maintenance most years). However, I had to stop taking the medication for two reasons: first, the drug made my heart race, which was a huge problem at night - I couldn't sleep. It also made me somewhat anxious and short-tempered. I thought I had generalized anxiety. Instead, it was the medication giving me the symptoms (now that I'm off the drug, my heart rate is fine, and the jumpiness has disappeared). The other drawback was severe hoarseness."

• ber...
• November 23, 2008

For Asthma, Maintenance "I have been using Symbicort for a week now and can breathe better, and don't have to use my albuterol at all. I do keep albuterol handy, though. The only side effects I have right now are a pounding heartbeat, nervousness, and my eyes are a little irritated. Hope my side effects get better because I really like this inhaler."

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

For Asthma, Maintenance "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!!!!"

• Bab...
• November 18, 2021

For Asthma, Maintenance "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."

• Bab...
• November 18, 2021

For Asthma, Maintenance "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."

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

For Asthma, Maintenance "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."