Symbicort and Cough: What Users Say

• A u...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 25, 2019

For COPD "I have probable COPD, not diagnosed yet. I have had mucus, wheezing, coughing, and chest tightness for a year and a half. Prescribed Flovent, antibiotics, Nasonex, Pulmicort for sinusitis. Finally, the docs decided to look at the lungs and prescribed Symbicort a few weeks ago. I have had a significant improvement - a lot less coughing and less chest tightness with the Symbicort."

• kcc...
• August 25, 2016

For COPD "I have used it one night and one day. Four inhales total. At first night. It causes laryngospasm. I almost choked. This horror is still with me two months passed. Even on day I had spasms. Mostly start with a cough. I am afraid if there is no cure for this. All my life changed. None of physician knows this disease. They prescribe asthma drugs. I searched on the internet 13 cases reported so far. I am the 14th case. Stay away."

• for...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 31, 2016

For Asthma, Maintenance "Omg... what a terrible drug! I just recently asked to be changed back to Advair. My regular doctor wouldn't, so I saw a colleague of his, and she asked why I was put on it in the first place. I told her that I did not know why he changed me from Advair to Symbicort when I wasn't having any problems with it. She changed me to Advair. It is Monday, and I just changed on Thursday, and already I feel better. Asthma is still bothering me, and I'm on prednisone, but my mental outlook has drastically changed for the better. I felt like I was in a depressing fog that I couldn't get out of. Can't believe I was on this garbage drug for a year and a half. Coughing all the time, nothing much coming out, just constant coughing. Thank God I'm off this terrible drug."

• S81...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 7, 2021

For Asthma, Maintenance "I tried to go on this twice, several months apart. Both times made my asthma much worse within 2 days of starting. The second time was so bad I had to go to the ER. I experienced wheezing, coughing, and chest tightness. It was scary to feel like I couldn't suck in air, and my breathing was so shallow. This is very dangerous, and this drug needs more research."

• Wes...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 6, 2021

For Asthma, Maintenance "When I first got Symbicort 200/6 for adult onset asthma, it was amazing for the first year after several other inhalers that didn't help. Now I have been sick for 3 weeks, all tests from the hospital came back fine for everything, so I've come to the conclusion it's my medication, especially as the sickness is worse a while after using my inhaler. I feel like I can't breathe, I am coughing more, I have red cheeks, black under eyes, shaking, tachycardia, thick phlegm, adrenaline surges, bad rhinitis, joint and muscle aches, very hard to sleep, weakness, bruising, tiredness to the point I'm nearly falling asleep multiple times a day. I can't walk upstairs without nearly passing out. Chest pain. I feel the most ill I've ever felt, I've no appetite. To make things worse, my doctor won't take it seriously."

• Rob...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 30, 2019

For Asthma, Maintenance "I have been on Symbicort 160/4.5, 2 doses twice a day for ten days now. I am actually breathing worse than before I got the Symbicort. I have never heard myself wheeze so badly until the past few days. The thrush is awful. I actually had pieces of my throat come up when I cough. And they were falling off the roof of my mouth. After two days of gargling with salt water, that cleared up and I gargle every time I use the inhaler now. Sinuses only getting mucus-ier. Short of breath and coughing. Headaches are not welcome, and my last complaint is a deal breaker. I just cannot continue this drug because it is causing me to have vaginal bleeding. I NEVER have spotting or breakthrough bleeding, and to have that suddenly occur and see it has happened to other ladies, I will discontinue this drug. Unacceptable."

• 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."

• Anonymous
• June 15, 2010

For Asthma, Maintenance "I'm a seasonal asthmatic. My worst months are May to September. I was using my Ventolin inhaler up to 8 times a day on the onset of my allergy season, so my doctor put me on Symbicort. The effects were immediate. I've been using it for 2 weeks and haven't used my rescue inhaler since. My side effects are no different than the side effects of my inhaler - increased heart rate and dry cough."

• Why...
• May 9, 2015

For Asthma, Maintenance "I was perfectly controlled on Seratide, but my medical practitioner advised me to change. As far as I can tell, Symbicort has no effect at all. I don't get relief from the reliever part, and I wake up coughing and spluttering. I still need to use Ventolin. If I didn't know better, I would say it was a placebo."

• BAR...
• November 6, 2020

For Asthma, Maintenance "Symbicort prescribed, and I have taken as prescribed. I developed a severe sore throat, worsened breathing problems, wheezing, and a terrible cough. Upon reporting issues to the doctor, the medicine was immediately stopped. I am a retired teacher on a limited fixed income. I have received no response concerning reimbursement for any of the high cost of this medicine. If prescribed, be aware of the high cost and possible side effects."

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

For Asthma, Maintenance "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!"

• CLA...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 21, 2021

For Asthma, Maintenance "I was given Symbicort as a sample by my doctor. The first time I used it, it made me cough some. The second time, I literally coughed and hacked for 4 1/2 hours straight while at work! Needless to say, I threw it away. Thank goodness I didn't pay anything for it. I'm sure most people wouldn't be affected this way, but it was not a good experience for me."

• Bab...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 15, 2020

For COPD "It makes my COPD worse, my cough is nonstop when I use it and gone when I don't."